ATTHTS.— STELLULA. 361 



At one time A. helois(e was supposed to have occurred in Southern Texas, but this 

 statement, we believe, has now been found to have been based upon a wrong identi- 

 fication. 



2. AttMs ellioti. 



Selasphorus helois(B, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 129 \- Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 468 ^j I860, pp. 195', 



271 ' ; 1862, p. 96 (nee Less. & Del.) ^ 

 Atthis ellioti, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 9' ; Elliot, Syn. Troch. p. 114' ; Salv. Cat. Birds 



Brit. Mus. xvi. pp. 412, 667 °. 



A. Tieloism similis, sed rectriee extima integra haud ad apicem attemiata distinguenda. 



Hob. Guatemala (Skinner i). El Eincon in San Marcos, Chuipache and Volcan de Santa 

 Maria in Quezaltenango, Atitlan (W. B. Ewhardson% Volcan de Fuego^s, 

 Chilasco and Coban {0. S. & F. D. G. s). 



This species was long considered to be the same as A. heloisce, and passed as such 

 until Mr. Eidgway discovered a curious difi"erence in the shape of the outermost 

 primary, whereby the male of the Mexican and Guatemalan birds can always be distin- 

 guished ^- This feather in the Mexican form is attenuated towards the end by the 

 reduction in width of the inner web — in a similar way, but not to the same extent, as 

 in Selasphorus platycercus. The Guatemalan form has this feather of the normal 

 width throughout. 



A. ellioti occurs in many parts of the uplands of Guatemala, but is much more com- 

 mon in the outskirts of the forests of the Altos and of the great volcanoes than in Vera 

 Paz. We found it in some numbers on the ridge ^bove Calderas, which forms a spur 

 to the Volcan de Fuego. Here it sought a large thistle which grew in some profusion 

 on the hill-side. It was also observed on the upper part of the Volcano near to where 

 the two chief peaks unite. At certain seasons it has a cheerful song. 



1'". Cauda subfurcata ; plumoB gulares laterales elongates, albce, macula 



terminali rubra notatoe. 



STELLULA. 

 Stellula, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 90 ; Salv. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 413. 



Stellula is closely allied to Atthis, but has a slightly forked tail, the outer rectrices 

 being without white tips. The coloration of the throat is somewhat peculiar, inasmuch 

 as the glittering red terminal spots of the feathers are so reduced in size as to show the 

 white of the rest of the feathers amongst them. 



Stellula calliope is the only member of the genus, its range extending from Oregon 

 southwards to the tablelands of Mexico. 



BIOL. CENTE.-AMKB., Aves, Vol. II., Novemier 1892. 46 



