CHLOROSTILBON HEEBERLINI.
Ruddy-breasted Emerald.
Chlorestes lueberlini, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibr. p. 7 ( 1 8 5 3 ) . - - I d . Troehil. Ennm p 4
Taf. 7 0 3 . figs. 4 5 7 8 - 8 0 (1 8 5 5 ) .
Chlorostilbon haberlini, Cab. & H ein e , Mus. H em . Th. iii. p. 4 8 , n o te 6 (1 8 6 0 ). Gould, Intr.
Troehil. 8 vo, p. 1 7 5 (1 8 6 1 ) .— W y a tt, Ibis, 1 8 7 1 , pp. 1 1 9 , .378.— Ellio t,’ Ibis,
1 8 7 5 , p. 1 6 0 .— Mulsant, H ist. N a t. Oiseaux-Mouches, ii. p. 1 0 0 (1876))))—Elliot,
Synopsis o f th e H umming-Birds, p. 2 4 5 (1 8 7 8 ).
Chlorolampis haherlini, Cab. & H e in e , Mus. H ein . Th. iii. p. 4 8 , no te 6 (1 8 6 0 ).
Chlorostilbon nitons, Lawr. Ann. L y e . N a t. H is t. N ew York, vii. p. 3 0 5 (1 8 6 1 ) .— Gould, Intr.
Troehil. 8 vo, p. 1 7 9 (1 8 6 1 ) .
T his species, which is easily recognized by its black bill, with the basal half o f the lower mandible
flesh-coloured, is an inhabitant of Venezuela and Colombia. Considerable variation in colour is to
be noticed in a series, and we cannot do better than quote Mr. Elliot's remarks on this subject:—
‘•Specimens vary, like those o f other species o f Choroslitton, in the shades o f green possessed in
their plumages; and some have brilliant crowns. It is to these individuals that Mr. Lawrence has given
the name o f miens, as above cited. His specimen came from Venezuela, but as I have a specimen from the
same country with a green crown, like the majority o f those from Colombia, I do not deem this o f sufficient
importance to constitute a species, especially as in other respects the examples are alike. I have therefore
placed Mr. Lawrence’s name as a synonym o f C. hteberlim. Specimens from Venezuela and Colombia are
not to be distinguished from each other, with which also those brought by Mr. Wyatt from near Cartagena
(the locality o f the type o f C. heeberlini) fully agree.”
Mr. Wyatt, writing o f this species at Ocana in the Magdalena valley, s a y s “ W e had an opportunity
while here o f seeing the Humming-bird feeding its young, which is performed in the same way as it is by a
Pigeon. A young Chlorostilbon heeberlini was sitting on a coffee-shrub, which grew under a lar«*e tree,
around the blossoms o f which the Humming-birds congregated. The old bird came, and, havm«*1 first
swallowed the food herself, ejected it into the mouth o f the young one. We afterwards caught the young
one iu a butterfly-net.”
[R. B. S.]