4r,('i 



N(»I:TII AMKIMCAN BIIIDS. 



}>la('c oalltMl Cliiiuacliovn near ('al(U*ras, in tlie Vnlcan de Fuego, and other 

 speciniciis taken in tlic fin-ra calii ntv, near ('(tl)an, showing that, like many 

 (•tlicr >]»eties, it is t'niuid in very different climates. 



(iExrs 



(JOULD. 



Helhixrdh,, GorLP, Mon. Timhilida;, 11, liitiod. Timhil. 1861, 60. (Type, Trochilus 

 mc-lnnntus, SwAINsiiN.) 



Gf.x. CiiAi:. I>ill litiitirr than head, depressed, broad at its exposed base; the frontal 

 feathers not advaiH-in^' forward beyond the beginning of the nostrils, nor so far as those 



of the chin. Hind toe shorter tlian the lateral, 

 tarsi feathered ; outer primary not attenuated. 

 Tail nearly even, sliirhtly rounded and emarginate, 

 the feathers broad, the webs nearly even. Metallic 

 feathers of throat not elongated. Female quite 

 similar in form. 



17707 



16935 2 



Hdiopatdica rantun 



This genus is quite peculiar among those 

 of North America in the exposure of the 

 base of bill, which is entirely bare between 

 the lengthened nostrils, instead of covered 

 bv tlie frontal feathers. This makes the 

 bill appear very broad, although it really 

 is more so than in the other genera. The feathers on the chin extend con- 

 sideral)ly beyond those of the forehead, instead of to about the same line. 

 The tail and its feathers are much broader than in the other genera. 



The two known species of this genus may be distinguished by the follow- 

 ing characters : — 



CoM>fON Characters. Above metallic green ; tail plain black or chestnut, 

 glossed with green, and without white in either sex. A conspicuous white post- 

 ocular stripe, and a blackish auricular one beneath it; beneath. Avith more or less 

 green. ^. Forehead, chin, and side of head deep l»lack or metallic dark blue; 

 throat and jugulum Itrilliant green. 9* Front dull brownish-green ; chin, throat, 

 and jugulum white or ochraceous, with or without a green gloss. 



H. melanotis.^ Male. Belly white, glossed with green ; tail black beneath ; 



base of bill, all round, brilliant blue ; white cheek-stripe beginning back of 



the e3'e. Female. Beneath white glossed with green ; tail bluish-black. 



II<ih. Guatemala and table-lands of Mexico. 



H. xautusi. Male. Belly cinnamon ; tail beneath purplish-cinnamon ; chin 



black; white cheek-stripe beginning at the bill. FemaJe. Beneath plain pale 



rufous ; tail d(.'ep rufous. Ilab. Cape St. Lucas. 



^ IIdl'>po'<Uca nirJanoth, (Swains.) Ooi'iin, Monog. Troch. II, pi. Ixiv. Trochilus meianotus, 

 Swains. Phil. Mag. 1827, 441. Trochilus leucotis, Vieill. Ornisinyia arsenni. Less. Hub. 

 Mexico and Guatemala. 



