992 



TRUMPETER 



Messrs. Sclater and Salvin in their Nomendator (p. 141) admit 

 6 species of Trumpet-birds — (1) the original Fsophia crepitans of 

 Guiana ; (2) P. napensis of eastern Ecuador (which is v-ery likely 

 the veritable " Oiseau trompette " of De la Condamine) ; (3) F. 

 ochroptera from the right bank of the Rio Negro; (4) P. leucoptera 

 from Peru and the right bank of the Upper Amazons ; (5) P. 

 mriilis from the right bank of the Madeira ; and (6) P. ohscura, the 

 distinctness of which is denied by Dr. Sharpe (Cat. B. Br. Mus. 

 xxiii. p. 281), from the right bank of the Lower Amazons near 

 Para. And they have remarked {Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 



PsoPHiA LEUCOPTERA. (After Mitchell.) 



592) on the curious fact that the range of the several species 

 appears to be separated by rivers, a statement confirmed by Mr. 

 AVallace (Geogr. Distr. Anim. ii. p. 358) ; and in connexion there- 

 with it may be observed that these birds have short wings and 

 seldom fly, but run, though with a peculiar gait, very quickly. A 

 seventh species, P. ccmtatrix, from Bolivia, has since been indicated 

 by Prof. ^V. Blasius {Journ. f. Orn. 1884, pp. 203-210), who has 

 given a monographic summary of the Avhole group worthy of 

 attention. The chief distinctions between the species lie in colour 

 and size, and it will be here enough to describe briefly the best 

 known of them, P. crepitans. This is about the size of a large 

 barndoor Fowl ; but its neck and legs are longer, so that it is a 



