T H E M I S -ANTOHJUE
THRENETES ANTONIA.
Sooty Barbed-throat.
T ro ch ilu s A n io n ic s , Bou rc. e t Muls. in Ann. d e la Soc. d ’A g r ., &c. de L y on , 1846, p. 329.
P o l y tm u s A n to n ie s , Gray and Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, vol. i. p. 108, P o l y tm u s , sp. 37.
L am p o r n i s A n to n ie s , Bonap. Consp. Gen. A v ., p. 7 2 , L o p h o rn is , sp. 8.
A l t h o u g h this species has been long known to ornithologists, it was only in the year 18 4 6 that it received
a scientific appellation, M. Bourcier then assigning to it the name o f Anionite in honour o f Madame Antonia
Perroud, the wife o f a learned entomologist. Since then it has been transferred to the genus Polytmus by
Mr. G. R. Gray, and to Lampornis by the Prince of Canino. That it does not belong to either o f those
genera, or to any other at present established, is certain, and I have therefore been necessitated to propose
a new' generic term for it and its near ally T . leucurus. The circumstance o f its having remained so long
undescribed by Lesson and others, who have professed to give complete monographs o f this group o f birds,
is doubtless due to its being unadorned by any brilliant or metallic colouring; its sombre plumage, however,
does not/im my opinion, detract from its interest as a species; for in the economy o f nature, this dull-coloured
bird plays a part o f equal consequence with those o f its most gaily attired allies.
The native country o f the T . Antonies is Cayenne, and the neighbouring countries ; but the precise extent
o f its range has not yet been ascertained : I have never seen it from Trinidad or Northern Brazil.
The sexes are very similar in the colouring o f their plumage, and I have seen specimens which appear to
be immature, which do not materially differ.
The entire plumage both above and beneath o f a very dark greenish bronze; wings dark purplish brown;
central tail-feathers greenish bronze; lateral feathers purplish brown, glossed at the base with greenish
bronze ; bill brownish black ; feet light yellow.
The Plate represents two examples o f the natural size. The plant is a species o f Stifftia, common in the
country, where the bird is found.