AMAZILIA DEVILLEI. 



Deville's Amazili. 



Trochilus Devillei, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 272. — Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii., 



app. p. 30a, app. to p. 103. 

 Amazilia Devillei, Reichenb. Auf. der Col., p. 10. 

 Amazilius devillei, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 254. 

 Trochilus Maria, Bourc. Ann. Sci. Phys. &c. de Lyon, 1843? 

 Hylocharis mariae, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 74, Hylocharis, sp. 6? 

 Smaragdites Marite, Reichenb. Auf. der CoL, p. 7? 



In order to effect a correct determination of many species of this group of birds, I have found it absolutely 

 necessary to examine the typical specimens from which the original descriptions were taken, — a task of no 

 ordinary difficulty, distributed as they are among our own and the Continental museums, both public and 

 private. With regard to those described by M. Bourcier, I have had but little trouble, since they have not 

 only been freely submitted to my inspection in his own cabinet, but they have, in many instances, been 

 transmitted for this purpose to my own house; and his kindness has been especially serviceable with regard 

 to the bird here represented {Amazilia Devillei), as there are two or three species of this form so nearly 

 allied to each other that one description would almost serve for all, particularly if the minute points of 

 difference are not included therein. Thus, by description alone, it would be very difficult to distinguish the 

 Amazilia Devillei from the A. Arsino'e ; yet these birds are really quite distinct — one (the Arsino'e) inhabiting 

 Mexico, and the other (the Devillei) Guatemala. In size, too, they are very much alike ; but the tail of Devillei 

 is by far the deepest and richest in colour, and has the beautiful fiery violet tints predominating over the 

 other red parts of the feathers, while the contrary is the case in Arsino'e. The wing in Devillei, also, is 

 much darker than in Arsino'e, the base only of the primaries and secondaries being rufous chestnut, while in 

 Arsino'e somewhat more than the basal half is of this colour; and, finally, the green of the under surface 

 is much deeper, and extends further down towards the tail-coverts than in Devillei. 



As I have before mentioned, the native country of the A. Devillei is Guatemala. Some of the specimens 

 I possess were transmitted to me by Mr. Skinner, while others were received from Mr. Salvin, who collected 

 them at Duerias. Although I have said that the Arsino'e inhabits Mexico, and the Devillei Guatemala, I do 

 not believe that the two birds are strictly confined to those respective countries, but that they will pass the 

 border-line at one or other season of the year. I believe that the note attached by Mr. Salvin to Arsino'e 

 has reference to this bird, and not to that species ; if so, I fear I may have inadvertently led him into the 

 error by giving a wrong name when he submitted his collections to me on his return from Guatemala. 



It would be difficult to define in writing the minute differences which exist in the external appearance of 

 the sexes, the colouring being so very similar. In size, the female is somewhat smaller than her mate. 



Head, wing-coverts, and back dark green ; wings dark purplish brown, with a mark of rufous at the base 

 of the primaries and secondaries; tail-coverts dark purple; tail rich fiery purple ; all the under surface 

 shining grass-green ; thighs thickly clothed with white feathers ; under tail-coverts pale bronzy brown ; 

 under surface of the tail purplish brown, margined and tipped with fiery copper; bill black, except the base 

 of the under mandible, which appears to have been fleshy red; feet dark brown. 



The figures in the accompanying Plate represent two males and a female, of the size of life. The plant 

 is the Epidendrum linearifolinm. 



