1880.] 335 [Brewer. 
Gardiner, Jr., of Cambridge, Stephen G. Deblois, T. W. B. 
Clark, John Ritchie, Jr., Joseph Redfearn, M.D., Frank 
Billings, M.D., Harold Chessman Childs, and Prof. Chas. R. 
Cross, of Boston. | : 
The following papers were read: 
CATALOGUE OF THE HUMMING-BIRDS (TROCHILIDAE) IN THE 
-Musreum or THE Boston Socrety oF Natura History.!} 
By THomas M. Brewer, M.D. 
The following catalogue of the mounted specimens of the interesting 
family Trochilidae has been in the course of preparation for more than 
a year, and its publication has been delayed, at first in order to have 
the aid of Mr. D. G. Elliot’s Synopsis of this family, and, since then, 
with the view of including the additional species recently added 
to the collection. During this period the original number of 180 
species has become 221. 
In the almost interminable task of identifying unfamiliar or doubt- 
ful specimens the work would have been impossible but for the aid re- 
ceived from the courtesy and experience of Geo. N. Lawrence, Esq., 
of New York, who has most kindly and faithfully examined and 
passed upon a large proportion of these identifications. 
This catalogue follows the classification of Mr. Elliot’s Synopsis, 
and the names are given in the same order of genera and species. 
To the name of each species we have added the corresponding num- 
ber given by Mr. Elliot to his genera and also that to his species. 
The former are indicated by Roman numerals, the latter by the Arabic. 
The nomenclature is identical with that of Mr. Elliot’s Synopsis, 
with three exceptions. We venture to retain the name of Amazilia 
cerviniventris believing A. yucatanensis of Cabot to be a distinct species. 
And we prefer to follow Henshaw in regard to Selasphorus allent and 
S. rufus. The specific peculiarities and distribution of these two 
closely allied species are greatly in need of more light. What we 
prefer to call S. rufus is, without doubt the more northern species, 
our examples being from Washington Territory and northern Cali- 
fornia. All of the La Fresnaye examples in the Society’s collection 
marked as rufus, are apparently from Mexico, and are the S. 
alleni of Henshaw. | 
1 This list has been in type for some months and was revised by the late Dr. 
Brewer himself, who, however, intended a final revision, now unfortunately im- 
possible. 
\ 
