Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilidae. 3 



another 1*88, while others are intermediate. Cayenne examples 

 of P. super 'ciliosus have the wing from the carpal joint vary- 

 ing from 2-20 to T80. In the coloration of the tips of the 

 tail-feathers, the specimens of P. longirostris before us vary 

 from rich buff to nearly pure white, and the same is the case 

 with the examples of P. super ciliosus ; and as regards the shape 

 of the rectrices, it would appear, in this group at least, that 

 the younger the bird the more pointed are the lateral ones. 

 As regards the group to which P. guyi belongs, the white tips 

 of the lateral tail-feathers disappear with age, and in the adult 

 of P. yaruqui these feathers become of a uniform black. 



The geographical distribution of this genus appears to be 

 well and plainly marked, and extends from the southern con- 

 fines of Brazil to the northern limit of the neotropical region, 

 to the exclusion of the West Indies. Its members are inha- 

 bitants of the depths of the warm tropical forests, being never 

 found in the open country nor in elevated districts. In Brazil, 

 as restricted, to the exclusion of the Amazonian valley, we find 

 three, perhaps four species, viz. P. eurynome and P. sgualidus, 

 both of which are common in the southern provinces ; in the 

 Province of Bahia and parts of Minas Geraes P. pretrii is 

 found; the fourth species is P. philippii, which may occur 

 in the far interior on the confines of Bolivia. In the great 

 valley of the Amazon we find but three species, viz. the widely 

 ranging P. super ciliosus, P. hispidus, and P. bourcieri, the latter 

 being met with in the upper portion. In Guiana itself P. super- 

 ciliosus alone is found. Passing to Ecuador we obtain P. syr- 

 matophorus, which is probably restricted to the western slope 

 of the Andes, and P. yaruqui ; while on the Pacific coast P. 

 longirostris appears at the southern extremity of its range. 

 We now come to Columbia ; and here we find two species oc- 

 curring in the vicinity of Bogota, viz. P. anthophilus and P. 

 emilice ; in the valley of the Magdalena P. longirostris and 

 P. augusti also occur. In Trinidad and Venezuela P. guyi 

 is the prevalent form, while the latter is the headquarters of 

 P. augusti. Costa Rica and Veragua possess P. emilice, which 

 is not shared by the rest of Central America, wherein P. lon- 

 girostris is found universally distributed. 



u 2 



