292 TEOCHILID^. 



Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 198 ' ; Lawr. Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 284 ° ; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. 



ii. p. 292 ". 

 Uranomitra guatemalensis, Berl. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. xi. p. 562". 



C. cyanocephalce persimilis, cauda cupreo- nee olivaceo-viridi tincta forsan distinguenda. 



Hab. Bkitish Honduras, Southern Pine-ridge of the "Western District {Blancaneaux^) ; 

 Guatemala, Pine-ridge of Poctun, Cohan, Mountains of Chilasco and San Geronimo 

 in Vera Paz, Duenasi {0. S. & F. D. G.^), Panajachel {W. B. Bichardson^) ; 

 HoNDUEAS, Siquatepec {G. C. Taylor^); Nicaeagua, Matagalpa {W. B. B.^). 



The difference between this bird and the Mexican C. cyanocephala, though slight, 

 seems to be fairly definite when adults with plumage of about the same age are com- 

 pared. It is then seen that the tail of the southern form is more decidedly tinged with 

 a bronzy hue, that of the northern bird being nearly pure olive. Females and young 

 birds are not always easy to distinguish. 



The range of C. guatemalensis extends beyond the limits of Guatemala in both direc- 

 tions, being found in the pine-clad districts of the western parts of British Honduras 

 at an elevation of 1500 to 2000 feet above sea-level, and near Matagalpa in Nicaragua, 

 also in a pine-region, at an elevation of about 4000 feet. The specimens obtained 

 by Mr. Eichardson in the last-named locality veere shot between June and October. 



In the highlands of Guatemala it is a common bird, especially about the village of 

 Duenas, where it chiefly feeds from the flowers of a Euphorbiaceous tree which grows 

 there to a height of twenty or thirty feet, and forms one of the chief trees of the scrubby 

 forest. Nests were found in successive years near the house of the Hacienda at Duenas, 

 placed in the outer branches of a large cypress tree. In cutting one of these nests 

 down it was thrown quite on one side, but the eggs did not fall out owing to a pro- 

 jecting rim inside the nest keeping them from being upset. This rim would preserve 

 the eggs from danger during great oscillations caused by high wind. 



Some birds of this species were very tame, one would even take cotton-wool from a 

 table inside the house, doubtless for nest-building ; the same bird would daily search 

 the cut flowers in the rooms. On one occasion it was caught but showed little fear, 

 and whilst in the hand sucked at sugar dipped in water, and on being liberated flew to 

 a tree close by. The wind produced by the rapid action of the wings of these little 

 birds is considerable, for the surface of the piece of wool over which the intruder 

 hovered was violently agitated by the disturbance of the air. 



b'. Guttur nunquam omnino album ; color nitido-cyaneus nullus ; supra plumis 



micantihus nunquam ornatce. 



AMAZILIA. 



Les Amazilis, Lesson, Ind. g^n. Troch. p. xxvii. 



Amazilia, Eeich. Av. Syst. t. 39 ; Salv. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 203. 



