A group rather than a genus next claims our attention; for two or three very well-marked divisions occur among the birds I have figured under the generic name of Heliomaster. Unlike the last, which are confined within certain limits, these birds are widely spread, some of them over Mexico and Central America, and others over Venezuela, and even further south than the latitude of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
The members of this section of the Trochilidæ are of rather large size, have long straight bills, lengthened wings, and a structure admirably adapted for aérial progression. The males are mostly clothed with fine colours on the crown and throat.
The species of the genus Heliomaster as now restricted, are at least five or six in number, and four of them are inhabitants of Central America or countries north of the Isthmus of Panama. Their short, nearly square tails, the outer feathers of which, together with their under tail-coverts, are spotted with white, render them very conspicuous.
Heliomaster longirostris
Habitat: Trinidad
Plate 259
Heliomaster longirostris
Long-billed Star-throat
Heliomaster Stuartæ (Lawr.)
Habitat: New Granada; the neighbourhood of Bogota
No illustrations
Mr. G. N. Lawrence, of New York, considers the bird from Bogota to be distinct from the Heliomaster longirostris of Trinidad, and has assigned to it the distinctive appellation of Stwarte, in honour of a most estimable lady, the wife of R. L. Stuart, Esq., of New York.
For my own part, I have always regarded the Bogota and Trinidad birds as one and the same; but Mr. Lawrence has ever maintained that they are distinct; and on the day when these remarks were written I received from him a copy of the first part of his paper entitled “Catalogue of a Collection of Birds made in New Granada, by James McLennan, Esq., of New York,” in which, referring to his Heliomaster Stuarte, he says:—“Since describing this species, I have had an opportunity of examining seven other specimens from Bogota. I find the bills of these to be quite as long as those of H. longirostris; but they are much stouter, and the base of the bill is very broad and bare of feathers, whereas in longirostris the bill is comparatively narrow at the base, and the feathers extend quite forward on the bill. These differences were constant in an equal number of each species.”
Whether the birds are really distinct or mere local varieties, time and the acquisition of a larger number of specimens must determine. I have in my own collection two specimens of another bird of this form, which bear a very general resemblance both in size and markings; but the crown, instead of being bluish green, is positive blue. So decided is this colour, that I have no hesitation in saying that, if so slight a difference is allowed to separate the Bogotan and Trinidadian birds, these also must be regarded as belonging to a distinct species, and the term Sclateri, which has been proposed by Dr. Cabanis, be used for them. I have two very fine males of this bird in fully adult plumage, killed by M. Warszewicz in Costa Rica; but in what particular locality, is unknown to me. Besides the Costa-Rican bird, I have another, still more different, from Southern Mexico, a most charming specimen, killed by M. Montes de Oca. This beautiful bird also bears a general resemblance in colour and markings to those immediately preceding, but is distinguished from all of them by its delicate light-green metallic crown. For this new species I propose the name of pallidiceps.
If this little section be found to be composed of four distinct birds, the species will stand thus:—H. longirostris of Trinidad and the adjacent portions of the continent; H. Stuartæ of Bogota; H. Sclateri of Costa Rica; and H. pallidiceps of Guatemala and Mexico.
Heliomaster Sclateri (Cabanis.)
Habitat: Costa Rica
No illustrations
Heliomaster pallidiceps (Gould)
Habitat: Mexico and Guatemala
No illustrations
Crown of the head shining pale green, much paler than in H. longirostris; chin black; gorget purplish red, separated from the ear-coverts by a distinct mark of white; upper surface bronzy green; two centre tail-feathers wholly green, the next on each side green tipped with black; the three outer feathers green at the base, then black, and a spot of pure white at the tip, the white spot becoming less from the outer one, until on the third it is a mere speck; wings purplish brown; chest and centre of the abdomen grey; flanks bronzy green; under tail-coverts pale green, tipped with white.
Total length 3\(\frac{3}{8}\) inches; bill 1\(\frac{5}{8}\); wing 2\(\frac{3}{8}\); tail 1\(\frac{1}{2}\); tarsi \(\frac{1}{4}\).
“The white sides and the white spot on the back show very conspicuously as this bird rests on its perch.”—Salvin in Ibis, vol. ii. p. 264.
Heliomaster Constanti
Habitat: Guatemala, and Costa Rica
Plate 260
Heliomaster Constanti
Constant’s Star-throat
Heliomaster Leocadiæ
Habitat: Mexico
Plate 261
Heliomaster pinicola
Pine Star-throat
Featuring all 422 illustrated species from John Gould’s A Monograph of the Trochilidæ, or Family of Humming-Birds arranged by color.
Humming-Birds
