INTRODUCTION. xcix 



334. Thaxjmatias Linn^et, Bonap. Vol. V. PL 302. 



Trochilus viridissimus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 149. 



Trochilus viridipecttis, Sauc. iu Mus. Berol. et Heineau. 

 Saucer ottia viridipectus, Reich enb. Aufz. der Col. p. 7. 



Agyrtria Thaumantias, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 7, pi. 756. figs. 4738-39. 

 Chlorestes viridipecttis, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 4, pi. 702, figs. 4573-75. 

 Hylocharis lactea, fem., Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 8, pi. 772, fig. 4792. 

 Coeligena Maugei, fem. (!!!), Reichenb. in Mus. of Berlin (Cabanis), 

 Agyrtria maculata. Cab- et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 33. 



Habitat, Northern Brazil, Cayenne, Dutch and British Guiana, Trinidad, and Venezuela. 



This bird is much smaller than the last, has less white on the abdomen, and the under tail-coverts tino-ed 

 with grey. 



I think it likely that pi. 62 of Lesson's ' Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches ' has reference to this species, 

 and the text to the T. alhiventris. 



335. Thaumatias fluviatilis, Gould. 

 Habitat. Banks of the River Napo. 



In size this bird rather exceeds the last, and has a more than proportionately longer bill ; the breast is 

 glittering deep or grass green instead of golden green, and there is a narrow irregular streak of greyish white on 

 the abdomen ; but the great difference which distinguishes it from the T. Linncjei and the rest is the colouring of the 

 under tail-coverts, the centres of which are dark brown margined with greyish white ; the tail-feathers are short, 

 and of a nearly uniform dull black. 



Total length 4 inches, bill 2-V, wing 1, tail \\. 



336. Thaumatias apicalis, Gould. 

 Habitat. New Granada. 



About the same size as the last, with an equally lengthened bill ; the upper-surface golden green ; the centre 

 of the abdomen and under tail-coverts pure white ; the four outer tail-feathers steel-black margined with pure white 

 at the tip. 



Total length 3-^ inches, bill 1, wing 2-^, tail 1^. 



337. Thaumatias maculicaudus, Gould. 

 Habitat. British Guiana. 



This is a very little species, with a long thin bill ; its breast is green, as the other's ; the centre of its abdomen 

 white ; the under tail-coverts white, except in the centre, where they are dark brown ; but the great difference is 

 in the tail, which is exceedingly pretty, the two cetitre feathers being bronzy green, except at the extreme tip, which 

 is greenish black, the next on each side bronze for half their length, then black ; the three outer ones on each side 

 bronzy green at their base, then broadly zoned with black, next to which they are green, and lastly white. 



Total length 3-|- inches, bill t, wing 2, tail 1-^. 



A specimen of this bird was brought from Guiana by Sir Robert Schomburgk ; and in all probability the 

 species is an inhabitant of the interior. 



The five preceding species are all very nearly alike, and form a minor section ; they are confined to a com- 

 paratively limited area. The remaining members of the genus are more widely distributed, one of them inhabiting 

 Guatemala and Costa Rica, and two or three Veragua, while the others frequent Venezuela, Trinidad, the Guianas, 

 and Brazil ; but as each of the species has its proper habitat indicated, it will be unnecessary to say more on the 

 subject here. The females are very similar to the males in colour, except in the case of the rai'e species I have 

 called T. chionurus, where the two sexes differ considerably, as may be seen on reference to the plate in which they 

 are represented. 



The group of Humming-Birds to which I next direct attention comprises the genera Amazilia, Pyrrhoph<ena, 

 Erythronota, Eupherusa, Saucerottia, SappUronia, Hylocharis^ and others, ranging between the Amazilice and the little 

 green species forming the genus Chlorostilbon. These birds are the least understood of the Trochihdas, and are 

 certainly the most difficult and perplexing to discriminate of the entire family. I will, however, do my best to 

 unravel the confusion with which they are surrounded, and to place both the genera and species in as clear a light 



