ARINIA BOUCARDI, Mulsant.
Boucard’s Emerald.
A r in ia boucardi, Mulsant, Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon, 1877.:— Elliot, Synopsis o f the Humming-
Birds, p. 2 0 9 (1S78).
A ren a boucardi, Mulsant, H ist. N a t. Oiseaux-Mouches, iv. p. 1 9 4 (1878).
Sapp/iironia boucardi, Boucard, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1 8 7 8 , p. 71.
T his Hiimmiiig-liird was discovered by M. Boncard a t Puntarenas, in Costa Rica, in May 1877, and
specimens of both sexes procured. It was described by the late M. Mnlsant in the same year, and of it
Mr. Elliot gives the following account and description :—
“ But one species is known, brought from Costa Rica by M. Boucard. It is very close to the genus
Agyrtria, and were the male alone known, the propriety o f separating it from that genus might possibly
he questioned; but as the female is quite different in the colouring of her plumage from the male, while
the sexes of Agyrtria do not differ in their dress, it would seem to he best to allow the present species a
distinct generic rank. This genus connects Agyrtria with Elvira.
“ Male. Upper surface and flanks bronze-green, darkest on the head. Throat and breast shining bluish
green. Abdomen and under tail-coverts pure white. Median pair of reetrices dark bronze-green, uext
bronze-green with black tip, remaining lateral feather bronze-green at base, rest black, the bronze-green
decreasing in extent as it goes towards the external feather. All the lateral feathers edged with white at
their tips. Maxilla black ; mandible flesh-colour; tip black. Feet black. Total length 3H inches, wing 2,
tail 1A, culmen i h |
“ Female. Differs in having the middle o f the throat, breast, and underparts pure white. Median
reetrices bronzy green; lateral feathers green at base, then black and tipped with grey. Rest like the
ma,e’” [R. B. S.]