CMTLOROSTILBON PHAETOiNo
Glittering- Emerald.
Trochilus phaethon, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 274.
-------------pheeton, Gray an d Mitch. Gen. of B irds, vol. iii. App. p. 300, App. to p. 103.
Chlorestes Phaethon, Reich. Auf. der Col., p. 7.— lb . Troch. Enum., p. 4.
HylocJiaris phaeton, Bonap. Rev. e t Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 255.
------------- aureiventris, Bonap. Rev. e t Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 255.
— simili8, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 74, Bylocharis, sp. 4 ?
Chlorolampis phaethon, Cab. Mus. H ein ., Theil iii. p. 4 8 , note.
Trochilus flavifrons, Gould, Zool. o f Beagle, p a rt iii. Birds, p. 110.
______ metallicus, Gould, MS.
Ornismya aureiventris, D ’Orb. and L a Fresn. Syn. Av., p. 28.
Trochilis similis, Bourc. ?
If we consider the metallic-plumaged Humming-Birds of Bolivia, Peru, and La Plata to be one and the
same species, then this bird enjoys a range extending across the continent of South America from east to
west. It is true that the specimens from the three localities above mentioned have received distinct
specific appellations, but, except in size, they offer no marked difference. The bird frequenting the high
lands of Bolivia was named aureiventris by MM. D’Orbigny and LaFresnaye ; the Peruvian bird so common
at Chuquesaca had the name Phaethon assigned to it by M. Bourcier, and the one from La Plata that of
flavifrons, by myself.
The typical specimen from which M. Bourcier took his description of Phaethon is now before me; it
is evidently the Chuquesacan bird, and is by far the largest in size when compared with the examples from
the other localities mentioned; those from Monte Video, where specimens were procured by Mr. Darwin, are
the next in size, and the aarmmtris is the least; all are precisely alike in form and colour, their only
difference being, as already mentioned, in their admeasurements.
My figures, which represent both sexes of the size of life, were taken from Chuquesacan birds. Time, and
the acquisition of a greater number of specimens from every locality, can alone determine whether we are
warranted in considering these birds as one or three species: what is the Trochilis similis of M. Bourcier ?
The male has the head, all the upper surface and wing-coverts rich golden bronze, but inclining to green
on the upper tail-coverts; wings purplish brown; tail black, glossed with deep green; throat and breast
glittering emerald-green, merging into the glittering coppery bronze of the sides of the neck and abdomen;
under tail-coverts green; bill apparently fleshy red at the base, with a darker tip.
The female is bronzy green above and grey beneath, washed with bronze on the flanks; wings purplish
brown; tail bluish black, the two lateral feathers tipped with greyish white.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size. The plant is the Calliandra Taieetliei.