AMAZILIA VIRIDIGASTER. 



Green-bellied Amazili. 



Trochilus viridigaster, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 105. — lb. Ann. Sci. Phys. de Lyon, 1843, 

 p. 42. 



Hylocharis viridigaster, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 74, Hylocharis, sp. 5. — Gray and Mitch. 



Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 115, Hylocharis, sp. 41. 

 Saacerottia viridiventris, Reichenb. Auf. der Col., p. 8. 

 viridigastra, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 255. — Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. 



Soc., part xxv. p. 16. 



It will be admitted by every ornithologist that a more appropriate specific appellation than the one applied 

 to this species might easily have been selected — one having reference, for instance, to its greyish-brown 

 back or its nearly pure violet tail, whereas the term viridigaster will apply equally well to at least a hundred 

 species. So far, however, as I am aware, no other term has ever been applied to it, except viridiventris, 

 which has the same meaning ; viridigaster must therefore be retained. 



The native country of this bird is New Grenada, and numerous are the examples which have from time to 

 time been sent to Europe from Bogota. M. Bourcier once told me that, upon reconsidering the subject, he 

 feared that the bird to which he had given the name of Trochilus Marice might prove to be identical with 

 the present species ; but on carefully comparing his description with the examples from which the figures 

 in the accompanying Plate were taken, I find it to differ so much, especially in the colouring of the wings, 

 as to preclude the possibility of such being the case ; in all probability it is identical with A. Devillei. 



I regret that I have not a single note to add respecting the habits and economy of this bird. I believe 

 that all the specimens which have reached Europe have been killed and skinned by the Indians, who, as is 

 well known, pay little or no attention to habits : all they desire is to approach sufficiently near to obtain 

 them by means of the blow-pipe, with which they take almost unerring aim, using round balls of clay for 

 their pellets. 



Like the other Amaziliae, the sexes resemble each other in colour; if any difference occurs, it consists in 

 the somewhat brighter hues of the male. 



Head, upper part of the back, and wing-coverts dull green ; lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts 

 greyish brown ; wings purplish brown ; tail deep violet ; under surface shining grass-green, passing into 

 greyish brown ; under tail-coverts greyish buff, with lighter edges ; thighs somewhat thickly clothed and 

 white ; bill black, except the basal two-thirds of the lower mandible, which appears to have been fleshy. 



The figures are of the size of nature. The plant is the Lcelia acuminata. 



