J L A M P O M T X S . T E tT T L EN TU S .
J GmtUL and-K.C PxetUtr ld et ZiBv
LAMPORNIS AURULENTUS.
St. Domingo Mango.
Trochilm margaritacem, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 490 ?—Lath. Ind. Om., vol. i.
p. 308.
Le Hamse-col doré, Vieill. Ois. Dor., tom. i. pp. 29, 31. pis. 12, 13.
Trochilm aurulentm, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. N at., tom. vii. p. 350.—Dumont, Dict. Sci. Nat.,
tom. x. p. 49.—Drapiez, Dict. Class. d’Hist. Nat., tom. iv. p. 318.—Vieill. Ency.
Méth. Om., part ii. p. 555.—Less. Hist. Nat. des Col., pp. 68, 71, 73, 74. pis. 16,
17, 18, 19.—Ib. Ind. Gen. et Syn. des Ois. du Gen. Trochilm, p. xj.—Ib. Traité
d’Om., p. 289.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 306.—Ib. Stepb. Cont., vol. xiv.
p. 240.
Polytmm margaritacem, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmm, sp. 13.
------------aurulentm, Vieill. Hist. Nat. des Ois. de 1’Am. Sept., tom. ii. p. 72.
Lampornis margaritacem, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 72, Lampornis, sp. 5.
Eulampis aurulentm, Bonap. Rev. e t Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 250.
Margarochrysis aurulenta, Reicbenb. Aufz. der Cobbris, p. 11.
Grey-necked Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 761.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 304.
Aurulent Humming-bird, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 306.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 307.
Trochilm dominicus, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 191.—Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i.
p. 489.—Lath. Ind. Om., vol. i. p. 309, female ?
Polytmm dominicus, Briss. Om., tom. iii. p. 672. pl. xxxv. fig. 4, female ?
Verte perlé, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vi. p. 62.—Vieill. Ois. Dor., tom. i. p. 128.
Saint Domingo Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 762.^—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 306.
I h a v e adopted the term aurulentus for this fine species because we know positively that it has been applied
to the male bird figured on the accompanying Plate, while there is a degree of uncertainty whether margari-
taceus has reference to this or some other species. In adopting this name I am following in the steps of
Vieillot, Bonaparte, and many modern authors. The old name of dominicus would perhaps be the most
correct and appropriate one, but that term is considered by more recent writers to be referable to the
L. gramineus; with the synonymy of the present species, in fact, as with that of L. gramineus, the utmost
confusion prevails; it will be better, therefore, to retain the name of aurulentus. The native country of this
species is St. Domingo : as to Porto Rico, which it is also said to inhabit, I leave it to future Trochilidists
to say if it be found there or n o t; in all probability it may inhabit both those contiguous islands, but I
have no positive evidence that such is the case.
Unlike the females of most of the other species of Lampornis, which bear a general resemblance to each
other, the female of this species is very dissimilar, having the whole of her under surface grey, in lieu of
the striped and variegated style of markings which prevail in the females of L. Mango, L. gramineus,
L. Prevosti, &c.; this grey colouring of the under surface is, however, the only point of difference, the tail
bcing marked very similarly.
The male has the head, all the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts dark yellowish green; throat dull
golden green; all the under surface dull black; a tuft of white on each flank ; wings purplish brown ; two
central tail-feathers dark bronzy purple; lateral feathers violaceous purple, bordered with dark purple.
The female has all the upper surface and two central tail-feathers bronzy green ; all the under surface
grey; lateral tail-feathers purplish chestnut, with a broad band of dull black near the tip, which is white.
The Plate represents both sexes of the size of life. The plant is the Passiflora penduliflora.