EUTOXERES SALVINI, Gould. 



Salvin^s Sickle-bill 



Eutoxeres salvini, Gould, Ann. &Mag. Nat. Hist. (4) i. p. 455 (1868). — Eudes-Deslongchamps, 



Annuaire Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Caen, i. p. 72 (1881). 

 Grypus salvmi. Gray, Iland-l. Birds, i. p. 123, no. 1547 (1869). 

 Eutoxeres aquila, pt., Elliot, Synopsis of Humming-Birds, p. 3 (1878). 



The present bird I consider to constitute at least a distinct race of Eutoxeres, although Mr, Elliot, 

 in his recent synopsis of the group, has not thought it necessary to separate it from E, aquila. 

 I am content to notice the bird without figuring it, and must leave to future ornithologists the 

 task of determining the value of ^. saMni as a species. 



The following is a transcript of the remarks which I published when originally writing on this bird : — 

 '' The Veraguan bird is much more nearly allied to the Ecuadorean than the New-Granadian species, but 

 possesses characters differing from both, which, though slight, appear to be constant, none of the 

 specimens I possess having the pure white shafts of the New-Granadian E, aquila, or the uniformly coloured 

 tail of the Ecuadorian E. heterura, but having all the tail-feathers tipped with white ; It moreover assimilates 

 to this bird in size, as it also does in the buflf colouring of the striae of the throat and breast. For this 

 Veraguan bird I propose the name of Eutoxeres Sakini, in compliment to a gentleman who assuredly 

 deserves that a finer bird should bear his name ; but as this species lives on that side of the Isthmus of 

 Panama his labours whereon have been rewarded with such fruitful results, I embrace the first opportunity 

 afl^orded me of testifying to the benefit he has conferred upon the branch of science to which we are both 

 attached. It may be asked, and with some show of reason, if characterizing birds as distinct which present 

 such trifling diflferences is not like splitting straws; to which I would answer, such differences not only exist, 

 but are as constant as the seasons which run their courses without variation, and it is well known to all who 

 have studied the natural productions of the two Americas that their faunas, with but few exceptions, differ 

 in toto. How these differences have been brought about is beyond our comprehension ; but when we do find 

 them, they ought assuredly to be made known." 



