CHRYSOBRONCHUS VIRIDICAUDUS.

Green-tailed Humming-bird.

Trochilus viridissimus, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. Dor., tom. i. p. 84. pl. 42.
Le Petit Colibri, Vieill. Eney. Meth. Orn., part 11. p. 557. pl. 129. fig. I.
Ornismya viridis, Less. Les Troch., p. 96. pl. 33.

Trochilus Theresia, Da Silva, Maia Minerva Brasiliensis, 1843, p. 2.

 

As is the case with the foregoing species, Chrysobronchus virescens, much confusion has hitherto existed with
regard to the correct specific name of this species, and it is the unravelling of the synonymy of such
species as these which is the great plague of the Monographist. Accompanying the list of synonyms which
M. Bourcier sent me as in his opinion applicable to C. wrescens were the synonyms given above as having
reference to this species, and the following note respecting it :—

« J] existe au muséum de Paris le type du viridissémus de Vieillot, qui ne laisse aucun doute a cet egard.

«<A ’époque ou M. Lesson publiait son volume des Trochilidées je lui envoyai divers sujets, afin qu il
puisse déterminer les deux espéces, confondues par les anciens auteurs, mais il n’y porta pas toute attention
voulue, et il se contenta d’en faire une figure en lui conservant le nom de viredis.

‘Vous feriez bien d’admettre viridicaudus, Gould. J’avais conseillé au Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte
dans son ‘Conspectus’ d’adopter eidissimus ; mais ce nom ayant aussi été donne par Lesson a une autre
espece, il vaut mieux ne pas s’en servir.”

Whatever uncertainty there may be respecting the names applied to this bird, there is none with regard
to the countries it inhabits, for we are constantly receiving specimens direct from all parts of the delta of
the Amazon, from Para upwards to the tributary streams of Peru and New Grenada. It is also especially
abundant in Guiana, Cayenne and Demerara, whence great numbers are sent to Paris in company with the
other families of birds inhabiting those countries.

The sexes differ in the smaller size of the female, and in that sex as well as the young of the year having
the tail-feathers tipped with white and the under surface of a greyer or more uniform tint.

The male has the head, upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts bronzy green ; under surface shining grass-
green 5 wings purplish brown; tail-feathers shining greenish bronze above and green beneath ; vent and
under tail-coverts white; upper mandible black ; basal two-thirds of the under mandible fleshy red, the tip
black.

The female is similarly clothed on the upper surface, but on the under is grey washed with green; and
her lateral tail-feathers are slightly tipped with white.

The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Mormodes atropurpurea.

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