266 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 2 



underside of the tip of a palm leaf which served as a roof to the cup." 

 The 2 dull white eggs measured 17x11, and 18x11 mm. 



PHAETHORNIS SUPERCILIOSUS (Linnaeus): Long-tailed Hermit, 

 Ermitano Rabudo 



Figure 39 



Trochihis supcrciliosus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. 1, 1760, p. 189. 

 ( Cayenne. ) 



A large, long-tailed hermit, with the back light bronze-green ; rump 

 and upper tail coverts cinnamon-buff barred with black. 



Description. — Length 145-155 mm. Adult (sexes alike), pileum 

 dusky to dusky black ; hindneck dull brownish buff tipped with dusky ; 

 upper back and scapulars dull metallic bronze-green edged with dusky ; 

 rump and upper tail coverts cinnamon barred with black ; wing coverts 

 dull green ; wings dull black with a faint sheen of violet ; tail with 

 base dull bronze-green, distally black, edged with cinnamon-buff and 

 tipped with white ; middle pair of rectrices much elongated, and 

 narrowed at the end, dusky at base, white for most of the narrowed 

 tip ; a broad line of buff above and back of eye ; side of head, including 

 lores black, bordered below by a faint streak of pale buff to white ; chin 

 and upper foreneck brownish buff, the feathers dusky basally, with a 

 central line of buff to buffy white ; rest of under surface grayish buff to 

 buffy white, paler on the abdomen, with under tail coverts more de- 

 cidedly buff. 



Immature, upper surface with feathers tipped narrowly with 

 cinnamon. 



This is the most common of the large hermit hummingbirds found 

 throughout the Tropical Zone of the mainland wherever there is forest 

 cover. Heavily shaded areas where undergrowth is restricted or at 

 least fairly open are favored localities, but they range also in open 

 gallery forest, particularly when feeding at flowers. I have found 

 them at times in heavy stands of low palms where the ground beneath 

 was open. They probe regularly in flowers, but also search twigs and 

 leaves for food. Often as they move about they utter squeaky calls, 

 especially when excited by an intruding human. They are constantly 

 pugnacious toward other hummers and often also toward larger birds. 

 Once I saw one in hot pursuit of a bicolored hawk that passed in 

 rapid flight. 



These hummingbirds have much curiosity over human intrusion, 

 so that regularly I have had them appear suddenly a meter or two 

 distant to hover, with rapidly vibrating tails. The openings in the 



