270 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilidse. 



we have already noticed in members of the allied genus Phae- 

 thornis, especially in the group containing P. guyi and its allies. 

 The females do not appear to pass through these changes, but 

 retain the light colour of the under surface, the elongated 

 rectrices, and the well-defined light tips of their tail-feathers. 



The geographical distribution of Pygmornis coincides with 

 that of Phaethornis, except that we are uncertain about its 

 range in western Ecuador, where, however, some one member 

 of the genus doubtless occurs. Guiana possesses three species, 

 P. longuemareus, P. pygmaus, and P. episcopus. In South 

 Brazil we find the species P. pygmceus and P. idalia, neither 

 going beyond the province of Rio Janeiro. P. nigricincius 

 is found on the Upper Amazon. P. longuemareus is the only 

 species of this genus met with in Venezuela, Trinidad, and 

 Tobago. Coming to the Andes we find P. striigularis, which 

 spreads through Columbia and Ecuador j and P. griseigularis 

 is found in the same countries and also in Peru. In the great 

 isthmus of Central America, together with Southern Mexico, 

 P. adolphi alone is found. 



We are able to separate the species of this genus into three 

 groups : — 



A. Rump green, same colour as the back .... Pygmornis idalice. 



B. Rump rufescent or bright rufous. 



a. Tail-feathers very broad, aud central ones 



acute Pygmornis longuemareus. 



b. Tail-feathers narrow Pygmornis adolphi. 



c. Median tail-feathers subterminally black . Pygmornis griseigularis. 



d. Throat grey striated with black Pygmornis striigularis. 



C. With prominent pectoral black band in the 



male. 



a. Mandible basal half yellow Pygmornis pygmceus. 



b. Lateral tail-feathers black Pygmornis episcopus. 



c. Mandible three-fourths yellow Pygmornis nigrieinctus. 



Pygmornis idali^. 



Trochilus idali<s, Bourc. & Muls. Ann. Soc. Linn, de Lyon, 

 vol. iii. (1856). 



Phaethornis obscura, Gould, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 14. 

 Pygmornis idaliae, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 48. 

 Phaethornis obscura, Gould, Mori. Troch. vol. i. pi. 38. 



