Genus Circe Gould

The Mexican genus Circe comprehends, as far as our present knowledge extends, only two species. Although their tails are somewhat short, they are composed of broad and ample feathers, all of which are tipped with grey: in this respect they remind us of the Chlorolampis Caniveti and its allies.

Generic characters.

Male.— Bill rather longer than the head, slightly curved and tapering towards the tip; wings rather long; primaries rigid; tail rather short and slightly forked, the feathers broad; tarsi clothed; feet small; hind toe short; throat slightly luminous.

Female.—Very dull in colour.

The six middle tail-feathers of both species are edged with brown, as in Caniveti.

• 380.

  Circe latirostris

  Habitat: The table-lands of Mexico

  Plate 338 Circe latirostris Circe

  My late friend Dr. Saucerotte gave me the type specimen of his Trochilus Schimperi with the name attached, by which means I am able to state that it is identical with the present bird, and not with the Trochilus lazulus of Vieillot as supposed by Dr. Reichenbach (see his Aufz. der Col. p. 21).

  • Ornismya Lessoni, Delatt. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 15 (female).
  • Trochilus lazulus, Licht. in Mus. of Berlin.
  • Cyanophaia lazula, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 10.
  • Hylocharis lazula, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 8, pl. 770. figs. 4783–84.
  • Hylocharis Doubledayi, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 44.
• 381.

  Circe Doubledayi

  Habitat: Mexico; locality Chimantla, according to Dr. Saucerotte.

  Plate 339 Circe Doubledayi Doubleday’s Humming-Bird