CHLOROSTILBON H:^BERLINI. 



Ruddy-breasted Emerald. 



Chlorestes hceherlini, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibr. p. 7 (1853). — Id. Trochil. Enutn. p. 4, 



Taf. 703. figs. 4578-80 (1855). 

 Chlorostilhon h(Eberlim, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. iii. p. 48, note 6 (1860). — Gould, Intr. 



Trochil. 8vo, p. 175 (1861).— Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, pp. 119, 378.— Elliot, Ibis, 



1875, p. 160.— Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, ii. p. 100 (1876).— Elliot, 



Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 245 (1878). 

 Chlorolampis JKeherlini^ Cab! & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. iii. p. 48, note 6 (1860). 

 Chlorostilhon nitens, Lawr. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, vii. p. 305 (1861). — Gould, Intr. 



Trochil. 8vo, p. 179 (1861). 



This species, which is easily recognized by its black bill, with the basal half of the lower mandible 

 flesh-coloured, is an inhabitant of Venezuela and Colombia. Considerable variation in colour is to 

 be noticed in a series, and we cannot do better than quote Mr. Elliot's remarks on this subject: — 

 ''Specimens vary, like those of other species of Chorostilbon, in the shades of green possessed in 

 their plumages ; and some have brilliant crowns. It is to these individuals that Mr. Lawrence has given 

 the name oiiiUens, as above cited. His specimen came from Venezuela, but as I have a specimen from the 

 same country with a green crown, like the majority of those from Colombia, I do not deem this of sufficient 

 importance to constitute a species, especially as in other respects the examples are alike. I have therefore 

 placed Mr. Lawrence's name as a synonym of C. hceberlini. Specimens from Venezuela and Colombia are 

 not to be distinguished from each other, with which also those brought by Mr. Wyatt from near Cartagena 

 (the locality of the type of C ]i(Eberlini) fully agree." 



Mr. Wyatt, writing of this species at Ocana in the Magdalena valley, says : — " We had an opportunity 

 while here of seeing the Humming-bird feeding its young, which is performed in the same way as it is by a 

 Pigeon. A young Chlorostilbon hcBberVirii was sitting on a coffee-shrub, which grew under a large tree, 

 around the blossoms of which the Humming-birds congregated. The old bird came, and, having first 

 swallow^ed the food herself, ejected it into the mouth of the young one. We afterwards caught the young 

 one in a butterfly-net," 



[R. B. S.] 



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