SPHENOPROCTUS CURVIPENNIS 



Mexican Sabre-wing". 



Trochilus curvipennis, Licht. Preis Verz. Mex. Tliier. p. 1 (1830).— Cab. J. f. O. 1863, p. 55. 



SpJienoprochis pampa (pt.), Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. iv. p. 11 (1860). 



Campylopterus pampa (nee Less.), De Oca, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1860, p. 551. 



Sphenoproctus curvipennis, Gould, Intr. Trochil. 8vo, p. 51 (1861).— Sclater & Salvin, 

 Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 79 (1873).— Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, 

 p. 23 (1878). — Eudes-Deslongchamps, Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. de Caen, i. 

 p. 146 (1880). 



Polytmus curvipennis, Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 125, no. 1569 (1869). 



This is the Mexican representative of S. pampa of Guatemala, and differs from that species in having the 

 head of a pale metallic blue. 



The following- account of the species is given by Mr. Rafael Montes De Oca (/. c.) : — 



"The people of Coalepec, nine miles from Jalapa, give to this species of Humming-bird the name Chupa- 

 mirto fandanguero, or Fandango Myrde-sucker, for the reason, apparently, that it has a somewhat musical 

 voice. It is the only Humming-bird which, to my knowledge, has any notes which are sufficient to recognize 

 it by in the woods, and these, though rather monotonous, are quite pleasing. In the neighbourhood of Jala])a 

 this species is found occasionally, but in the above-mentioned place is more abundant, although very difficult to 

 obtain. It inhabits the forest in the winter season, and generally feeds on the flowers of high bushes called 

 Asasaretos, which at that season are in full bloom and densely covered with beautiful smooth emerald- 

 green leaves, amongst which it is very difficnlt to see this bird, though it often betrays itself by its musical 

 notes, especially in the morning. The males only, I think, sing, or at least much more than the females. 



" Very few specimens of this kind are seen in summer time in this neighbourhood. It is found also near 

 Cordova, and goes as far south as Guatemala, where perhaps it builds its nest, for I have never seen or 

 heard of a nest being found here. 



"The general appearance of this species is as follows: — The upper part of the head is beautiful metallic 

 ultramarine colour. Wing-coverts and tail-coverts and upper part of the body bronze-green. Throat, 

 under wing-coverts, breast, and belly iron-grey colour, and the under tail-coverts the same, but tinged with 

 chestnut. Quills purplish black with the vanes black and resembling whalebone, the three principal ones 

 rather wider than common. Tail-feathers yellowish bronze-green, all except the two central with the half 

 towards the point bluish black, three on each side tipped with chestnut iron-grey. The feet are dark iron- 

 grey, nails and upper mandible black, under mandible iron-grey. Its size from the point of the bill to the 

 top of the tail is from 51 to 51 inches, wing 21, tail 2, bill U inches. The female is almost precisely like 

 the male, with the difl'erence of about I of an inch in size, and either less blue or with it less brilliant on the 

 top of the head." 



[R. B. S.] 



