[ARGENTINE ORNITHOLOGY.]
[Order II. MACROCHIRES.]
[ Fam. XX. TROCHILIDÆ, or HUMMING-BIRDS.]
Of the great American family Trochilidæ, which, according to the most recent authorities, contains about 450 species, eleven members have been ascertained to occur within the limits of the Argentine Republic. But of these only three (Calliperidia furcifera, Hylocharis sapphirina, and Chlorostilbon splendidus) reach the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres, where they occur as summer visitors. The remaining eight have been met with only in the northern and western provinces of Argentina. Of these two (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus and Patagona gigas) are also found in Chili, the others are Bolivian and South-Brazilian species.
[230.] OREOTROCHILUS LEUCOPLEURUS, Gould.
(WHITE-SIDED HUMMING-BIRD.)
Oreotrochilus leucopleurus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 81; White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 615 (Catamarca); Elliot, Syn. Troch. p. 36; Gould, Mon. Troch. ii. pl. 71.
Description.—Head, upper surface, and wings greyish olive-brown, passing into dull coppery green on the upper tail-coverts; two central tail-feathers and outer one bronzy green, the others white, narrowly edged externally with brown; throat shining green, bordered below by a band of black with bluish reflexions; flanks olive-brown; breast and sides of belly white; centre of belly black with steel-blue reflexions; under tail-coverts olive: whole length 5·0 inches, wings 2·7, tail 2·1. Female above like male; beneath white, throat densely spotted with brown; flanks brownish.
Hab. Chili and Northern Argentina.