Mr. D. G. Elliot on the Trochilidae. 
43 
also the feathers of the back_, of this colourpresenting a very 
different appearance from the colder green hack and grey 
tail of the typical style of this species. Two of these red- 
tail specimens are males, with brilliant heads; the others, 
possibly females, have bronzy red heads, the same colour as the 
tail, but with very little metallic lustre, rather dull in fact. 
The colour of the heads of the males is golden green, and not 
grass-green, like typical T, milleri. I do not remember ever 
having seen these differences between examples of this species 
referred to by auy ornithologist; and, although they are very 
great, sufficient to constitute a well-marked race, if not a 
species, yet, mindful of the manner in which birds of this 
family vary in coloration, I hesitate to regard this red form 
as distinct, until at least more ample materials are available 
for comparison, and an increased knowledge of the species 
may enable us to determine the range of the two styles, and 
to ascertain if they have a different dispersion. 
I obtained my red specimens from M. Bourcier ; and they 
are marked as coming from New Granada.^^ ^ 
5. Thaumatias candidus. 
Trochilus candidus, Bourc. & Muls. Ann. Sci. Phys. et Agri- 
cul. Lyon, 1846, p. 326. 
Thaumatias candidus, Gould, Intr. Mon. Troch. 8vo ed. 
p. 151; id. Mon. Troch. v. pi. 292. 
Hah. Guatemala {Salvin), Mexico [Salle), Honduras 
[Taylor). 
This well-known and rather plainly attired species was 
described by MM. Bourcier and Mulsant [1. c.) from a spe¬ 
cimen obtained at Coban, in Guatemala. It is not an un¬ 
common bird in Southern Mexico and Guatemala, in which 
countries numerous specimens have been procured by Messrs. 
Salle and Salvin respectively. In Honduras it was observed 
by Mr. Taylor, but not in any great numbers; and I believe 
this country is the southern limit of its range. In the vicinity 
of Coban this species appears to be more numerous than 
elsewhere. 
