THAUMATIAS ALBIVENTRIS. 



White-bellied Emerald. 



Trochilus tephrocephalus, VieilL Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., torn, xxiii. p. 430. — lb. Ency. Meth 



Orn., part ii. p. 560.— lb. Traite d'Orn., p. 283. 

 Omismya tephrocephalus, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 182. pi. 62. 

 albiventris, Less. Hist, Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 209. pi. 76. — lb. Les Troch., p. 94 



pi. 32.— lb. Traits d'Orn., p. 283. 

 Polytmus thaumatias, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 40. 

 Coeligena tephrocephala, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 7. — lb. Troch. enumer., p. 3 



pi. dclxxxvii. fig. 4518. 

 Argytria albiventris, Reichenb. Troch. enumer., p. 7. pi. dcclvii. figs. 4744, 4745. 

 Thaumatias albiventris, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 78, Thaumatias, sp. 1. 

 Thaumantias albiventris, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 255. 



This well-marked species differs from all the other members of its genus in being of a larger size than 

 either of them, and in having a greater amount of white on the abdomen and under tail-coverts. The two 

 sexes are so much alike in outward appearance that I have looked in vain for any decided difference by 

 which they may be distinguished ; I observe, however, that the female, as is the case with most of the 

 Humming Birds, is somewhat smaller and less pure in her colouring. 



M. Bourcier informs me that this bird inhabits Santa Catharina, in Brazil, and remarks that it bears a 

 great resemblance to the Thaumatias Linncei, but differs from that species in the larger size of its body, and 

 in the abdomen being always white in the adult. 



M. Bourcier also tells me, that the specimen from which Vieillot took his description of tephrocephalus is 

 still in the museum at Paris, but in a very bad state, with the feathers of the head much worn and faded, 

 and presenting a grey appearance, which doubtless suggested the appellation Vieillot assigned to it, and 

 which, being intended to express a feature that does not exist, must give place to that of albiventris, applied 

 to it by M. Lesson. 



Besides Santa Catharina, the northern parts of Brazil, and the Delta of the Amazon, near its embouchure, 

 and the neighbouring country are frequented by this bird. 



Head, all the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts dark green ; wings purplish brown ; two central tail- 

 feathers and the basal portion of the remainder dull green, the extent of which decreases as they recede 

 from the centre, middle portion of the lateral feathers blackish brown ; the tips brownish grey, increasing 

 in extent as the feathers recede from the centre ; throat and chest shining grass-green ; flanks dull green ; 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts white. 



The figures represent the two sexes of the size of life. The plant is copied from a drawing sent to me 

 by Mr. Reeves. 



