188 



SYNOrSIS OF THE HUMMING-BIRDS. 



The o-enus Eriocnemis is one of the most strongly characterized of those com- 

 posing the 'Irocliilidte. ISIany of the species possess a very brilliant plumage, the 

 lower part of the back being especially luminous, and moreover they are distin- 

 guished by having large downy puffs upon the tarsi, completely concealing them. 

 These downy feathers are black, white, pale buff, or brown and white. The species 

 are moderate in size, but of a rather robust form, with straight strong bills, and long 

 wino-s. The general hues of the species are various, and consist of dark gray, green, 

 coppery-red, and purplish-black; while the metallic hues are golden-green, blue, 

 bronze, and others of similar brilliancy. Although many genera have been pro- 

 posed, I do not see that tliere are any characters to separate the species, and have 

 kept them all in the term first given. 



Genus XCVIII.— EEIOCNEMIS. 



Ertopus, Gould. P. Z. S. (1847). p. IG (nee Treitsciike., 1825, Lepid.). 



Eriocnemis, Reich., Syst. A v., pi. si (1849). 



Engyetc, Keich., Syst. Av., pi. xl (1849). 



Threptrta, Reich., Syst. A v., pi. .\1 (1849). 



Phemonoe, Reich., Syst. Av., pi. .\1 (1849). 



Eriocnemys! , Bon., Rev. and Mug. Zoo!. (1854), p. 2.52. 



^ Aline, " Rkicu.," Bon., Consp. Syst. Ornith., Ann. Sc. Xat., 4tli scr. 



Zool. (18.54). torn, i, p. 137. 

 ^Mosqueria, " Reich.," Bon., Consp. Syst. Ornitli., Ann. Sc. Nat., 



4th ser. Zool. (1854), torn, i, p. I,'i7. 

 'Ljiciant, "Reich.," Bon., Consp. Syst. Ornith., Ann. Sc. Nat., 4th 



ser. Zool. (1854), torn, i, p. 137. 

 ^ D erboiniy a, "Reich.," Bon., Consp. Syst. Ornith., Ann. Sc. Nat., 



4th ser. Zool. (1854), lorn, i, p. 137. 

 Erehenna, Muls. and Verr., Class. Troch. (1865), p. CC. 

 Niche, MuLS., Catal. Ois. Mouch., p. 21 (1875). 

 Pholoe, McLS., Catal. Ois. Mouch. (1875), p. 22. 

 Nania, Mui.s., Catal. Ois. Mouch. (1875), p. 21. 

 Erion a, Muls., Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch., torn, iii, p. 28. 



Ch. Bill straight, about as long as the head : 

 nostrils exposed. Wings long pointed. Tail forked. 

 Tarsi thickly clothed with lengthened downy feathers, 

 forming a very conspicuous tuft. Sexes different, 



EaiKje. Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and 

 Bolivia. 



Seventeen species are now known belonging to tliis 

 genus. 



Type. 

 0. vcstita, Longuem. 

 0. vesiita, Longuem. 

 0. alincE, Bourc. 

 T. raosquera, Bourc. and Delatt. 

 T. luciani, Bourc. 



T. 



T. 



T. 

 T. 

 T. 

 E. 

 T. 

 T. 



alince, Bourc? 



mosquera, Bourc.? 



luciani, Bourc.? 



derhyi, Bourc. and Polatt.? 

 derhyii, Bourc. and Delatt. 

 glaucopoides, D'Oilj. and Lafr. 

 dyselius, Elliot. 

 cxipreiventris, Pras. 

 fjodini, Bourc 



Xriomemia aurtluL iXew Granada. Sharpo. 



' These four genera arc cited by Bonaparte as P.eichenbach's. I liave not found tlicra in any of 

 Reichcubach's publications that I liave secu, and, as no species were given by Bonaparte, there are 

 consequently no types for any of tbeni. 



