AMAZILIA DUMERILI. 



Dumeril's Amazili. 



Omismya Dumerilii, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou. Supp., p. 172. pi. 36. — lb. Ind. Gen. et 



Syn. des Ois. du Gen. Trochilm, p. xxviii. 

 Trochilus amazicula 3 Sauc. MSS. 

 Amazilia Amazilicula, Reich. Auf. der Col., p. 10. 



Polytmus Dumerilii, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 109, Polytmus, sp. 79. 

 Amazilia Dumerilii, Reich. Auf. der Col., p. 10. 

 Amazilius dumerili, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 77, Amazilius, sp. 3. — lb. Rev. Zool. 1854, 



p. 254. 



I have but little doubt that the bird figured in the accompanying' Plate is the " Ornkmya DumerUn" of 

 Lesson's " Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches," Supplement, p. 172, pi. 30; at the same time it is 

 necessary to observe that, if so, Lesson's figure is inaccurate, inasmuch as, I believe, the red colouring on 

 the sides of the neck and ear-coverts represented in his drawing is due to the wetting of the feathers in 

 the process of mounting the specimen, which has converted the original shining green colour into red ; 

 the outer tail-feathers being tipped with rufous, also indicates that the figure was taken from an immature 

 bird. I am quite certain that the T 7 . amazicula of Dr. Saucerotte's MSS. has reference to this species, that 

 gentleman having kindly sent me the original specimen from his Collection, which I find to be precisely 

 identical with my own. 



The true habitat of this bird, which may at all times be distinguished from its allies by the green colouring 

 of the lower part of the back and tail, is Guayaquil and its neighbourhood. I have now before me four 

 specimens, one of which is labelled " Isle of Puna," a small island near the mouth of the river. It is well 

 that I have been enabled to identify this bird with Lesson's plate, since there are two or three species of the 

 genus most nearly allied to each other, as may be seen on reference to the Plates in this work. 



There seems to be little difference in the colouring of the sexes; and it is evident that the young at an 

 early age acquire the adult livery, but while immature they have all the tail-feathers tipped with reddish 

 buflf; the adult female also has an indication of a lighter colouring on the same part. 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, all the upper surface and tail bronzy green ; wings purplish brown ; 

 chin and sides of the neck shining golden green ; chest white ; abdomen rufous or sandy red; under tail- 

 coverts greyish white washed with buff in the centre of each feather ; bill black at the tip, said to be fleshy 



white at the base. 



The female or young is very similar in the distribution of the colouring, but is altogether paler ; and on 

 the under surface the colours blend more into each other, and the tail is tipped with rufous. 



The figures on the accompanying Plate are the size of life. The plant is the Barnardesia rosea. 



