AGYRTRIA CO MPS A, Heine. 



Heine's Emerald. 



Jgp'trm compsa, Heine, Journ. fiir Orn. 1863, p. 185.— Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Ois.-Mouches, 



1. p. 256 (1874). — Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 204 (1878). 

 Agyrtria mellisuga, Cab. & Hein. Mus. Hein. Th. iii. p. 34 (1860). 

 Thaumatias compsa, Elliot, Ibis, 1878, p. 45. 



This species is placed by Mr. Elliot in the white-breasted section of the genus Agyrtria, close to J. neglecta, 

 from which it differs in its blue-black tail. 



The habitat is said to be Guiana, and the typical specimen is in the Museum Heineanum. As we have 

 never seen an example, we are obliged to translate Heine's original description :— 



" Similar to A, bremrostrn, but rather smaller and with the bill longer ; above glittering golden green ; 

 underneath white, varied with glittering spots of golden green ; the sides of the breast and belly uniform 

 emerald-green ; the middle of the abdomen uniform white ; the under tail-coverts glittering emerald-green ; 

 quills dusky; tail-feathers blue-black ; upper mandible dusky, the lower one brownish horn; feet dusky." 



[R. B. S.] 



AGYRTRIA NEGLECTA. 



Bar-tail ed Emerald . 



Ornimmja bicolor, D'Orb. & Lafr, Syn. Av. ii. p. 30 (1838, nee Less. 1829) 



Thaumatias neglectus, Elliot, Ibis, 1877, p. 140, 1878, p. 53. 



Agyrtria neglecta, Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 205 (1878). 



Very little is known of this Humming-bird, which is represented by two types in the Paris Museum, 

 procured by D'Orbigny at Yungas and Moxos in Bolivia. Mr. Elliot states that the types are in bad condition, 

 but he believes that when perfect specimens are procured the species will be found to be the most beautiful 

 of the whole genus. He further remarks that the species cannot be confounded with any of its allies; it 

 belongs to the section with the throat and upper part of the breast blue, but has the *' tail greenish bronze 

 with a subterminal blackish bar." 



The following descriptions are given by Mr. Elliot (/. c) : — 



''Male, Top of head, nape, and mantle metallic green ; throat and upper part of breast brilliant metallic 

 blue, the white base of the feathers showing amid the blue. Back, rump, and upper tail-coverts light greenish 

 bronze. Wings purplish. Flanks and lower part of breast shining green. Abdomen whitish. Under tail- 

 coverts pale brown, margined with white. Tail pale greenish bronze, with a subterminal black bar on the 

 lateral feathers. Maxilla black, the mandible flesh-colour. Feet black. Total length 3i inches, wing 2, 

 tail li bill i. 



" Female. Upper parts, sides of throat, and flanks shining green. Centre of throat and underparts whitish, 

 spotted with light metallic green. Tail as in the male, the tips of the lateral feathers whitish ; under tail- 

 coverts white. Wings purple. Bill as in the male. Feet black. Total length 31 inches, wing 2, tail li, 



bill I," 



[R. B. S.] 



