THAUMATIAS CANDIDUS.
White-breasted Kmerald.

Trochilus candidus, Boure. and Muls. i Ann. Sci. Phys. &e. de Lyon, 1846, p. 326.

Polytmus candidus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 45.

Thaumatias candidus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 78, Thaumatias, sp. 3.—Sclat. in Proce. of
Zool. Soc., part xxiv. p. 287.—G. C. Taylor in Ibis, vol. 1. p. 116.

Thaumatias candidus, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 255.—Salv. and Sclat. in This,
vol. ii. p. 40.—Saly. in Ibis, vol. i. p. 270.—Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxvii.
p. 386.

 

Tur Zhaumatias candidus ranges widely over the southern parts of Mexico and Guatemala, and, judging
from the number of specimens which have been transmitted to Europe through the instrumentality of De
Lattre, Sallé, Skinner, and Salvin, it must be a common species in those countries; at the same time, I
doubt not that, like nearly every other member of the family, it is somewhat local. Mr. Salvin states, in the
‘Ibis,’ vol. 11. p. 40, that it is ‘common on the Atlantic coast region, and thence one day’s ride into the
interior ;” he also met with it in abundance in the Vera Paz Mountains; and at page 170 he says :—“ This
species, which is very abundant about Coban, is also found at Yzabal. Many species of Humming-Birds
in Guatemala extend through a great range of temperature, the same species being frequently found both
in the coast regions and also in the more elevated districts. The males of 7. candidus largely predominate
in numbers at Coban; of those actually dissected, the ratio is as seven males to one female.”

Mr. G. C. Taylor states that he saw very few specimens during his stay at Honduras. Southern Mexico
and Guatemala, then, may be considered the true habitat of this species,—a species which differs from all
the other members of the genus in the great amount of white on the breast and under surface, and by the
absence of any luminous colouring on the other parts of the body. All the specimens of this bird I possess
are so much alike that I suspect dissection must be resorted to to ascertain which are males and which are
females. The remark made by Mr. Salvin, that the females are much less numerous than the males, is,
I doubt not, due to a separation of the sexes at the time of year Mr. Salvin was among them. In all pro-
bability, the males and females associate each by themselves during the winter months, and pair again, as
usual with all birds, just prior to the breeding season.

Head, all the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts, sides of the neck, and flanks greenish bronze; wings
purplish brown ; two middle tail-feathers bronze, the remainder deep grey, glossed with bronze, and crossed
near the tip with a band of reddish brown; centre of the throat, abdomen, and under tail-coverts snowy
white ; bill black, except the basal two-thirds of the under mandible, which appears to have been reddish
flesh-colour.

The accompanying Plate is intended to represent the male and female of this common but pretty species.
The red flowering plant is inserted more as a contrast to the white breast of the bird than as one upon
which it seeks its food; it is the Gesneria Schiedeana.

AN

AY
‘aloo

 

a

cl
a
r
(4
“
@

ss

vs

=e
~

—~

Bs

=i

2s Ze

it

bs

a

Aha

a