EUGENES SPECTABILIS.
Costa Rica Humming-bird.

Heliomaster spectabilis, Lawrence, Ann, Lye. New York, vii. p. 472 (1867).

Trochilus spectabilis, Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 1387, no. 1750 (1869).

Eugenes spectabilis, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, i. p. 215 (1876).—Boucard, Proce.
Zool. Soe. 1878, p. 68.—Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 61 (1878).

 

Two species of the genus Hugenes are known—one, &. fudgens, being found in Texas and Mexico, and
as far south as Guatemala, while the second species, Z. spectadilis, replaces it in Costa Rica. The latter
differs from E. fudgens in having the breast dark green instead of black, and the lateral tail-feathers
bronzy brown instead of bronzy green.

The following full description is copied from Mr. Elliot’s work :—

“ Male. Forehead dull green. Top of head and occiput brilliant dark violet. Upper parts dark grass-
green, the back appearing black in certain lights. Wings purple. Throat metallic dark green, bluish
in some lights. Underparts dark grass-green, the breast never appearing black in any light. Under
tail-coverts green, tipped with buff. Median rectrices dark bronze-green, the remainder bronze-green,
graduating into blackish brown and edged with white on the tips. Bill black. Total length 5% inches,
wing 3, tail 1%, tarsus lo.

“© Young (? Female). Crown dull brown. Entire underparts dull greyish brown, with an ochreous
tinge. Flanks dull green, with white pleural spot. Lateral rectrices green at base, a subterminal black
bar and the tips greyish white.”

The figures in the Plate represent two males and a female, of the natural size.

[R. B. S.J