468 NORTH A.MKKICAN UIKDS. 



Genus THAUMATIAS, Bonap. 



Gen. CiiAK. Very similar in general form to Heliopasdka, but the tail emarginated, 

 instead of rounded, the feathers narrower and less rounded at the ends. The coloration 

 quite different. Sexes alike, in all the species. Color nearly uniform green, with the 

 anal region white, the wings and tail dusky. Many species with the whole lower parts, 

 except laterally, pure white. One species {T. chionurus) with the tail white, except the 

 ends of the feathers and the intermediae. 



The species are all of ratlter small size and rather plain appearance, from 

 the uniformity of their green, or green and white, coloring. They belong to 

 northern South America, and to Central America north to Guatemala. 



The genus is included in the North American fauna solely upon the 

 accidental occurrence of one species {T. linncci) in Eastern Massachusetts. 



Thaumatias linnsei, Boxap. 



LINN^US'S EMERALD. 



Thaunmtias luinmi, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, 255. Thaumatias I. Gould, 

 Moiiog. Trochilid. pi. > Trochihis tobcici, Gmel. Syst. Nat. I, 498. ? Trochiliis loba- 

 gensis, Lath. Ind. Om. I, 316. i Trochiliis tobago, Shaw, Gen. Zobl. viii, 350. Or- 

 nisnoja viridissima. Less. Hist. Nat. 257, pi. Ixxv. I L' Oiscau-mouche a poUritie verte 

 (Trochilvs inaculatus), AuD. et Vieill. Ois. Dor. torn. I, 87, pi. xliv. Argyrtria 

 raaculata, Mayxai!D, Birds E. Mass. 1870, 128 (Cambridge, Mass.!). 



Sp. CnAR. Continuous green, darker above, more brilliant, and of an emerald tint on 

 the throat and juguluni ; crissum, anal region, and middle of the abdomen, white. 

 Primaries plain dusky. Tail blackish, with a faint reflection of dark blue subterminally, 

 and of dull green basally, the lateral feathers ob.scurely tipped with dull dark ashj'. 

 Sexes alike. Wing, about 2.00 ; bill, .70. 



Hab. Northern Brazil, Guian.a, Tobago, and Bogota (Godld) ? ? Accidental in the 

 eastern United States (Cambridge, Mass., Maynard). 



This race mucli resembles the T. idbiventris, (Reichenb.) Bonap. (Gould, 

 Monog. Troch., Vul. V, ]i. ccci ), of Brazil, but is said to be smaller and with 

 less white on the abdomen and the under tail-coverts tinged with gray. 



Habits. The single specimen of this Humming-I'ird, referred to by both 

 ]\Ir. ]\laynard and Mr. Allen ^ as having been taken in Massachusetts, is said 

 to have been shot by ^Ir. William Brewster in the summer of 186R, in Cam- 

 bridge, near ^Mount Aiiliurn. It was secured by accident, and was presumed 

 to be, wlien taken, a female specimen of Trochiliis cohibris. It was sent to 

 Mr. Vickary, of Lynn, to be mounted, and the question has been raised if 

 by chance a South American bird may not have been substituted for tlie 

 original. This, however, Mr. Vickary is positive could not have happened. 

 Nothing distinctive was observed as to its habits. In view, however, of the 

 possibility of an error, the propriety of inclnding it in our fauna is very 

 questionable. 



' .\m. N;itnndist, 1869-70. 



