THAUMATIAS AFFINIS, Gould. 



Allied Emerald. 



Mr. Reeves of Rio de Janeiro has more than once called my attention to the Humming Bird figured on 

 the accompanying Plate, which he considers to be quite distinct from, though closely allied to, Thaumatias 

 brevirostris, and which his hunters inform him arrives at Novo Friburgo at another season, has a different 

 note, and places its nest in a different situation. In connexion with this subject I may mention, that I 

 have for many years past received specimens of a bird from Minas Geraes, with a uniform green breast, 

 which I also considered to be different from the T. brevirostris, which generally has the throat and centre 

 of the abdomen pure white, and this I now find is the same bird as that to which Mr. Reeves has directed 

 my attention ; and I have therefore given it a distinct specific appellation, that of affirm. It is altogether 

 more delicately formed than the T. brevirostris ; has an almost uniform pale green tail, and a breast 

 without the slightest appearance of white in the centre. 



The nest I possess, sent by Mr. Reeves, is a much inferior structure to that of T. brevirostris ; is composed 

 of coarser materials ; is much thinner, and nearly devoid of external decoration, having only a few shred-like 

 bits of bark attached to its sides ; the eggs are white, and two in number. 



Like T. brevirostris, this species is not common near Rio de Janeiro, but is very abundant at Novo 

 Friburgo. Its cry is not so loud as that of its near ally. 



Head, all the upper surface, upper wing- and tail-coverts, abdomen and flanks greenish bronze ; throat, 

 breast and ear-coverts shining glaucous green ; under tail-coverts greenish brown, fringed with white ; tail, 

 both above and beneath, bronzy green ; wings purplish brown ; upper mandible black ; under mandible 

 fleshy brown. 



The figures are of the natural size. 



