THE IBIS. 



THIRD SERIES. 



No. IX. JANUARY 1873. 



I. — Notes on the Trochilidse. The Genus Phaethornis. By 

 Osbert Salvin, M.A. &c, and D. G. Elliot, F.L.S., 

 F.Z.S., &c. . 



After careful examination of the birds composing the genus 

 Phaethornis, we find that there are fourteen species that can 

 be fairly characterized ; and, judging from the ample materials 

 at our service, we consider that only those enumerated in the 

 following list can maintain any claim to specific distinction. 

 The genus appears to be divisible into four sections or groups, 

 each possessing sufficiently conspicuous characters, whereby it 

 may be easily determined to which section any species of the 

 genus should be referred. The four sections are as follows : — 



A. Species with curved bills, greyish or rufescent beneath, the central 



tail-feathers far exceeding the rest in length. 



B. Species with curved bills, grey or rufescent beneath, the rectrices next 



to the median very long. 



C. Species with curved bills, dark grey or iridescent green beneath ; adult 



males with the extremity of the median rectrices reduced to a point. 



D. Species with nearly straight bills. 



SEIl. III. VOL. III. B 



