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CH LOROSTILBON PRASINUS,

Brazilian Emerald.

ne

No state of confusion can be greater than that which exists respecting the smal] or
terms prasinus and atala especial ;
gree with the figures of the
impossible to determine with certainty

. ee a . een Humming Birds, and
‘ularly as to which o lem the i
particularl The two birds commonly

by M. Lesson, and indeed it is
intended they should represent ;

ly belong.

known by those names do not ; birds so called

what birds he I therefore propose
to retain those names for the birds generally known among collectors by these appellations.
The true habitat of the bird here represented is the eastern part of Brazil, over which it ranges fr
Janeiro, in which latter province it is very
apparently local, varieties of this bird; but
the tint of the colour alone, and not in their

om the
abundant. I have in my

as the difference consists in

river Amazon to the latitude of Rio de
possession three very different,
Size or structure, I cannot reg

f the city of Rio de J
those from the hilly parts of Minas Geraes have the

ard them as specifically distinct.
aneiro are Wholly metallic bluish green ;
head and sides of the neck of a golden lustre; while

to have been procured at Para, has the crown of the head,
back and abdomen reddish bronze. the throat alone bei

The specimens from the neighbourhood o

one sent to me by Mr. Reeves, and said

i@ oreen.

Mr. Reeves informs me that the Chlorostilbon prasinus remains in the neighbourhood of Rio the whole of

its full plumage during the months of August and September ; he also states that
the open plains, the densest forests and the sides of rivers are alike re

the year, and is drest in

sorted to; that the nest is suspended
two or three being frequently placed within a few feet of each
other, and in some instances two on the same branch, as figured in the accompanying Plate from examples
sent to me by this gentleman.

on reeds and ferns, and even on grasses:

illi i i now » males, exé es are frequently sent
Accompanying the brilliantly coloured birds which we know to be males, examples are freque 2

having the B tire under surface of a uniform greyish brown, without any metallic brilliancy, and with the

: ; ir ave always regarded as females ;

outer tail-feathers slightly, tipped with white; these dull-coloured birds I have always regarded as females ;

c - « s ~ 2 1 \ : :

but it is j ible t] hi metimes assumes, especially in old age, the brilliant plumage of the male ;
ut it is just possibile that this sex sometimes ass , }

. ° ther this opinio e or be not correct.
this however is by no means certain, and it remains to be seen whether this opinion be o1
S, :

fi vellowish green, with a golden lustre on the crown of the head
a, ‘ « > “po YS ‘tace e S 2’ , a
The male has the upp¢ I and undel urtac¢ 2 : : A ae anny ae Renee
and the sides of the neck; wines purplish brown ; tail black, 2 oneee s
| ar tip; feet reddish brown.
grass-green ; bill flesh-red at the base, darker towards the tip 5 feet reé on
Bie tye oc a | int purer green on the upper tail-coverts ; a
i ( is bronzy green, passing into gree '
The u per surface of the female is bronzy green, ] g a:
| | | > > + middle feathers wa
the a urface greyish buff: tail black, glossed with steel-blue, the four mi
: rs race gre Ss 5 « c a4 A
ae ; i ‘| ‘reyish buff.
eC r ‘ac » tipped with ereyish
green, and the two outer feathers on each side | “ | i ae aoe nice NE ae
di A ; : ; anying Plate represents
The figure of the male in the accompanying

natural size.