ADELOMYIA? CASTANEIVENTRIS, Gould.
Chestnut-bellied Adelomyia.
Trochilus ( ?)'castane<yoentris, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1850, p. 163.
Metallura castaneiventris, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 8.
E x a m p l e s of this new species of Humming Bird are, I believe, to be seen in my own Collection alone.
They were shot by M. Warszewicz, on the Cordillera of Chiriqui. One of the four specimens sent me
by this gentleman has the crown of the head metallic-green, a very rich chestnut-red pervading the whole
of the under surface, and the outer tail-feathers tipped with buff; the three others have no metallic
colouring on the crown, have the chestnut hue of the under surface paler, and the three latéral tail-feathers
tipped with white. These differences induce a belief that the three latter are not identical with the former,
hut constitute a distinct though nearly allied species ; and if this opinion should hereafter prove to be correct,
then the term castanementris must be retained for the bird with the metallic crown and buff-tipped outer tail-
feathers. I regret that the few specimens I possess do not admit of my determining the point, and I would,
therefore, strongly urge collectors to visit the native country of the bird, as I feel assured that their
researches would he amply repaid, not only by additional examples of this species, but by the discovery of
' many others, as a richer field for the naturalist does not exist between the Isthmus of Panama and Mexico,
and numerous species, yet unknown to us, live in the neighbourhood of the Volcano of Chinqm.
I have provisionally placed this bird in the genus Adelomyia, with a mark of doubt as to the propriety of so
doing, for, although the uniform chestnut colouring of the under surface is not found in any other member
of that genus, an approach to it is observable in the A.Jloriceps, while in the form of its bill and tail it very
nearly resembles, not only that species, but also A. melanogenys.
The specimen of the true castaneirxatm which graces my Collection, was killed at an altitude of 6000 feet ;
the three others above mentioned were obtained 2000 feet higher.
Crown of the head metallic-green; upper surface green ; wings purplish-brown; tail dark bronzy-green,
crossed near the tip by a broad band of black ; the lateral tail-feathers tipped with buff, which increases
in extent as they recede from the central ones; all the under surface reddish-chestnut; bill black.
The figures are of the natural size.