CHRYSOBRONCHUS VIRIDICAUDUS. 



Green-tailed Humming-bird. 



Trochilus viridissimus, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. Dor., torn. i. p. 84. pi. 42. 

 Le Petit Colibri, Vieill. Ency. Metli. Qrn., part ii. p. 557. pi. 129. fig. 1. 

 Ornismya viridis, Less. Les Troch., p. 96. pi. 33. 

 Trochilus TheresuB, Da Silva, Maia Minerva Brasiliensis, 1843, p. 2. 



As is the case with the foregoing species, Chrysobronchus virescens, much confusion has hitherto existed with 

 regard to the correct specific name of this species, and it is the unravelling of the synonymy of such 

 species as these which is the great plague of the Monographist. Accompanying the list of synonyms which 

 M. Bourcier sent me as in his opinion applicable to C. virescens were the synonyms given above as having 

 reference to this species, and the following note respecting it : — 



" II existe au museum de Paris le type du viridissimus de Vieillot, qui ne laisse aucun doute a cet egard. 



"A I'epoque ou M. Lesson publiait son volume des Trochilidees je lui envoyai divers sujets, afin qu'il 

 puisse determiner les deux especes, confondues par les anciens auteurs, mais il n'y porta pas toute Tattention 

 voulue, et il se contenta d'en faire une figure en lui conservant le nom de viridis. 



" Vous feriez bien d'admettre viridicaudus, Gould. J'avais conseille au Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte 

 dans son ' Conspectus ' d'adopter viridissimus ; mais ce nom ay ant aussi ete donne par Lesson a une autre 

 espece, il vaut mieux ne pas s'en servir." 



Whatever uncertainty there may be respecting the names applied to this bird, there is none with regard 

 to the countries it inhabits, for we are constantly receiving specimens direct from all parts of the delta of 

 the Amazon, from Para upwards to the tributary streams of Peru and New Grenada. It is also especially 

 abundant in Guiana, Cayenne and Demerara, whence great numbers are sent to Paris in company with the 

 other families of birds inhabiting those countries. 



The sexes differ in the smaller size of the female, and in. that sex as well as the young of the year having 

 the tail-feathers tipped with white and the under surface of a greyer or more uniform tint. 



The male has the head, upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts bronzy green ; under surface shining grass- 

 green ; wings purplish brown ; tail-feathers shining greenish bronze above and green beneath ; vent and 

 under tail-coverts white ; upper mandible black ; basal two-thirds of the under mandible fleshy red, the tip 

 black. 



The female is similarly clothed on the upper surface, but on the under is grey washed with green ; and 

 her lateral tail-feathers are slightly tipped with white. 



The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Mormodes atropurpurea. 



