SYNOPSIS OF THE HUMMING-BIRDS. 



Genus II.— RIIAMPHODON. 



Grypus, Spix. (ncc Germ., 1817, Coleop.), Av. Spec. Nov. (1824), p. 79. 

 Ehamphodon, Less., Iiid. Gen. Ois. ilu Genre. Troch. (1832), p. viii. 



Type. 

 T. ncevius, Dumont. 

 3'. ncevius, Dumont. 



Fig. 2. 



Ch. Bill nearly twice the length of the 

 head, curved; edges of mandibles in the 

 male serrated near the tip which is hooked: 

 culmen compressed at base. Mandible of 

 female curving slightly upwards near the 

 tip, leaving an open space between it and 

 the maxilla at this part. Tail slightly 

 rounde'd. Wings long and ample. Size 

 lai"ge. Sexes alike in plumage. 



Range. Southern Brazil. 



The term Gri/jm-t, bestowed upon the 

 T. ncevius, Dumont, having been employed m„mj.?,u,i,m ninvs. 24757. srazn. 



seven years previously for a genus of 



Coleoptera, cannot be again used here, and therefore, Ehamphodon of Lesson is 

 the one to be adopted. The species, included in the present genus and in the one 

 following, are closely allied. They are large birds, with bills strongly serrated 

 near the tips, and have but little metallic coloring. Indeed E.HAMPHODON does not 

 possess any. 



1. Rhamphodon naevius. 



Trochilus ncevius, Dumont, Diet. Sc. Nat., torn, xvii, p. 432. 



Grypus ruficollis, Spix., Av. Bras., vol. i, p. 79, tab. 80, fig. 3 (1824). 



Rhamphodon macidatum, Less., C'olib., p. 18, t. i (1831). — Id., lud. Gen. Ois. du Gcnr. Trocli. p. viii (1831). 



Ehamphodon ncevius, Reich., Aufz. der Colib., p 15 (1853).^Id., Troch. Enum., p. 12 (laa.i). — Cab. and Hein., 



Mus. Ilcin. Th., iii, p. 3 (18G0). 

 Grypus ncevius, Gould, Mon. Troch., vol. i, pi. 1.— Id., Intr. Troch., octavo ed., p. 35 (18G1).— Gray, Gen. B., 



vol. i, p. 105.— Bon., Cousp. Av., vol. i, p. 147 (1850).— Id., Rev. and Mag. Zool. (1854), p. 249. 



Hah. Southeastern Brazil. 



Male. Top of head dark brown, superciliary stripe buff; ear-coverts and lores 

 blackish-brown. Upper surface greenish-brown, each feather margined with light 

 brown. Wings purple. Chin and a line down the centre of the throat black, each 

 feather margined with pale buff. Sides of thro;it reddish-buff. Under parts black, 

 the feathers on the upper part of the breast conspicuously edged with white; abdo- 

 men and flanks blackish-brown, feathers edged with buff. Under tail-coverts buff, 

 streaked with dark brown in the centre. Median rectrices reddish-bronze darkest 

 at the tip, next also bronze tipped with buff, which runs in an oblique direction, is 

 most extensive on the outer webs, and occupies the half of the outermost feather. 

 Total length, 6 in. Wing, 2| in. Tail, 2^ in. Culmen, l/g in. 



There is no difference in the plumage of the sexes, but the female has a more 

 slendej.- bill, without hook or serrations. 



