TliOCIllLID.'E — THE llLMMlNli-BUiUS. 



•iG7 



HeliopsBdica xantusi, L.vwkicnce:. 



XANTTJS'S HTrKMING-BIBD. 



Amazilia xantusi, LAWltUMi;, Ann. N. Y. Lyo. VII, Aiuil, IStiO, ino. HcJiopmlica 

 xanlim, G(jui.I), Mon. Troth. II, jil. I.w. — In. Introil. Tvoili. Ul. — Ei.i.KH', 111. 

 Birds N. Am. Xl, plate. — Cool'Eli, Oiii. I'al. I, 1870, 3(i5. IlcUopm/icri ciislinicnciuiln, 

 Lawuenll, Aim. N. Y. Lye. IStiO, 145 (lenmlc). — Klliot, Illii.st, Birds X. Am. 

 I, xxii. 



Sp. Char. Afale. Above iiiotallic green ; the forehead, checks, and ehin velvety l)la(k 

 (the former with a deep bine srioss). A distinet white 8tiipe from bill, throuirli and 

 behind the eye. Throat and Ibrepart of breast In-illiant 

 inetallio green ; rest of under parts ciunainon-nifou.s; 

 all the tail-feathers purplish-rnfous, — the central 

 glos.sed with green above, near the edges, tlu; olhei's 

 obscurely edged with blackish along ends. 15111 red 

 at base, black nt end. Length, 3.. 'lO ; wing, 2.10; tail, 

 1.40; exposed portion of bill above, .05. Female. 

 Forehead and all under parts light cinnamon beneath, 

 without any green, or any du.sky specks on throat ; 

 white cheek-stripe appreciable, but tinged with rufou.s. 

 Tail as in male, but the central feathers entirely green 

 above, the other, except the outer, with a dusky greeni.sh or [)urplisli spot on each web 

 near the end. Whole upper mandible apparently dusky ; liase of lower, red. 



Had. Cape St. Lucas. 



This well-marked and intere.sting species we owe to Mr. Xaiitus, toj^ether 

 with many other liird.s oi' tlie west coast. It is sutticieutly (listinc;t to require 

 no comparison other than that given under tlie general lictid ; it can Vie sep- 

 arated from H. mc/anotis in all stages of plumage liy tlie riiiniis tail. 



Specimens A'ary .sometimes in the intensity of tht! rufous shade, and, as 

 stated, it is probable that tlie forehead, instead of being black, in lull plu- 

 mage is deep blue, as in mflanotis. 



Habit.s. This is a new and well-marked species, and altliough belonging 

 to the North American fauna cannot lie claimed for tlie United Stales, hav- 

 ing thus far been only taken at Cape St. Lucas by Mr. Xantus, and descrilKYl 

 bv Mr. Lawrence in 1860. Nothing is known as to its specific haliits. 



Hrlioprpftirft .rnntitsi. 



