ATTHIS ELLIOTLI, Ridgway.
Elliot’s Flame-bearer.

Selasphorus heloisa, Scl. & Salv. (nec Less. & Delattre), Ibis, 1859, p. 129.—Salvin, Ibis,
1860, pp. 196, 266. ;

Atthis heloisa (pt.), Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, Hist. North-Amer. Birds, ii. p. 465 (1874,
spec. ex Guatemala).

Atthis ellioti, Ridgway, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1878, p. 9.—Elhot, Synopsis of the Humming-
Birds, p. 114 (1878).

 

Tuts species of 4é¢his represents in Guatemala the well-known Atthis heloise of Southern Mexico.

As Mr. Ridgway remarks in his original description, it may be immediately distinguished by the very different
form of the outer primary, the redder and more uniform colour of the throat-gorget, and the shorter bill.
The outer primary in 4. edloti is broad, with the end not attenuated; and the gorget is uniform purplish
red without varying olivaceous tints, with the culmen 0°38-0:40; whereas in 4. heloise the culmen
measures 0:48-0:50, and the outer primary is very narrow, with the end abruptly attenuated, while the
gorget is reddish violet, showing decided violet tints in certain lights.

These differences do not strike one as being very strongly pronounced ; but as they appear to be constant,
the Guatemalan species will henceforth be known as A. elhoti.

The specific characters of the adult male are thus given by Mr. Ridgway :—

‘Outer primary broad, the end not attenuated. Gorget uniform reddish purple (much as in Calypte
as in A. heloise ; jugulum wholly white; middle of the abdomen
golden green ; crissum white, tinged with light rufous.
Tail with the basal half (approxi-

anné), without varying tints of violet
white; sides light rufous, slightly glossed with
Upper parts metallic green, decidedly less golden than in A, heloise.
the subterminal portion black ; three outer feathers on each side tipped with
1 the black portion above glossed with metallic green anteriorly. Wings
Wing 1:35 inch, tail 1-0-1:05.”

above being sufficient to distinguish it

mately) bright cinnamon-rufous,
rusty white ; the middle pair witl
uniform dusky, the smaller coverts metallic green.

I have not given a figure of this species, the differences detailed

from A. heloise.

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
    

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