DUSKY HERMIT 



under side of a leaf at the tip, to which it is 

 fastened by webs. "It is fond of flowers of wild 

 plantain and feeds on nothing else while they are 

 in bloom." (Carriker.) 



5. Phcethornis adolphi nelsoni 



Bangs and Barb our 



Dusky Hermit 



Phcethornis adolphi saturatus RIDGWAY, Birds of N. and 

 M. Amer., V, p. 236, 1911; STONE, Proc. Phila. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci., 1918, p. 254. 



Length, about 89 mm. (3.50 in.) ; tail, about 34 

 mm. (1.40 in.). 



Male. Upper parts dull metallic bronze; 

 rump and upper tail coverts chestnut, the tail 

 dusky tipped with whitish; patch under eye and 

 ear coverts dusky; a streak of cinnamon buff 

 below and one above ear coverts ; chin and throat 

 dusky, remainder of under parts reddish cinna- 

 mon. 



Female. Resembling male but chin and 

 throat paler. Tail extremely graduated and 

 tapering. 



A small species of deep woods and ravines, 

 distinguishable by its graduated tail and bronze 

 and cinnamon coloration. It usually flies very 

 low, often hovering motionless except for its 

 wings which make a characteristic buzzing sound. 

 One was observed dipping repeatedly into a pool 

 of water after small insects in a ravine on Barro 

 Colorado Island. 



185 



