AGYRTRIA COMPSA, Heine.
Heine’s Emerald.
A g y r tria compsa, H ein e , Journ. für Orn. 1 8 6 3 , p. 1 8 5 .— Mulsant, H ist. N a t. Ois.-Mouches,
i. p. 2 5 6 (1874)ÂgEUiot, Synopsis o f the Humming-Birds, p. 2 0 4 (1878).
A g y rtria mellisuga, Cab. & Hein. Mus. H ein. Th . iii. p. 3 4 (1860).
Thaumatias compsa, Elliot, Ibis, 1 8 7 8 , p. 4 5 .
T his species is placed by Mr. Elliot in the white-breasted section of the genus Agyrtria, close to A. neglecta,
from which it differs in its blue-black tail.
The habitat is said to be Guiana, and the typical specimen is in the Museum Hemeanum. As we have
never seen an example, we are obliged to translate Heine’s original description:—
“ Similar to A . bretirostris, but rather smaller and with the bill longer ; above glittering golden green;
underneath white, varied with glittering spots of golden green ; the sides of the breast and belly uniform
emerald-green; the middle o f the abdomen uniform white ; the under tail-coverts glittering emerald-green;
quills dusky; tail-feathers blue-black ; upper mandible dusky, the lower one brownish horn; feet dusky.”
[R. B. S.]
AGYRTRIA NEGLECTA.
Bar-tailed Emerald.
Ornismya bicoltrr, D'Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. ii. p. 3 0 (18 3 8 , nee Less. 1829).
Thaumatias neylectus, Ellio t, Ibis, 1 8 7 7 , p. 1 40, 1 8 7 8 , p. 5 3 .
A g y r tria neglecta, Ellio t, Synopsis o f the Humming-Birds, p. 2 0 5 (1878).
Very little is known of this Humming-bird, which is represented by two types in the Paris Museum,
procured by D ’Orbigny at Yungas and Mottos in Bolivia. Mr. Elliot states that the types are in bad condition,
hut lie believes that when perfect specimens are procured the species will be found to be the most beautiful
o f the whole genus. He further remarks that the species cannot be confounded with any of its allies; it
belongs to the section with the throat and upper part o f the breast blue, but has the “ tail greenish bronze
with a subterminal blackish bar.”
The following descriptions are given by Mr. Elliot (/. c.) :
“ Male. Top o f head, nape, and mantle metallic green; throat and upper part o f breast brilliant metallic
blue, the white base of the feathers showing amid the blue. Back, rump, and upper tail-coverts light greenish
bronze. Wings purplish. F l a n k s a n d lower part of breast shining green. Abdomen whitish. Under tail-
coverts pale brown, margined with white. Tail pale greenish bronze, with a subterminal black bar on the
lateral feathers. Maxilla black, the m a n d i b l e flesh-colour. Feet black. Total length 31 inches, wing 2,
tail 14, bill I. is . ,
“ Female Upper parts, sides of throat, and flanks shining green. Centre o f throat and underparts whitish,
spotted with light metallic green. Tail as in the male, the tips of the lateral feathers whitish ; nnder tailcoverts
white. Wings purple. Bill as in the male. Feet black. Total length 3 i inches, wing 2, tail 1.,
bil1 i " [R. B. S.]