PHAÉTHORNI S EREMITA, Gould.
Little Hermit.
T ro ch ilu s B r a s il i e n s i s , Temm. PL Col. 120. fig. 2 (n e e T . B r a s ilie n s is , Lath.).
T ro ch ilu s r itf ig a s te r , Less. H ist, des Coi., p. 4 3 . pi. 91
P h c e to r n is r t f i g a s t e r , Gray and Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, P h c e to rn is, sp. 12?
P h a e th o r n i s E r em i ta , Gould in Pro c . o f Z o o l. Soc. 1849-
L i t t l e H e rm i t , o f th e collectors in Para.
T h i s species must not be confounded with the Trochilus pygmceus o f Spix or the Trochilus rufigaster of
Vieillot; from the former it differs in being o f a larger size, in the buff of the under surface being of a
lighter and purer hue, in the black mark on the chest being smaller and less conspicuous, and in the more
cuneate form o f the tail, all the feathers o f which are largely tipped and edged with buff; while from
Vieillot’s bird, if his description and figure be correct, it differs in the two middle tail-feathers being less
developed, and in their tips being buff instead o f white. Lesson’s description of the bird which he has
considered to be identical with Vieillot’s T . rufigaster applies to the present species with the greatest accuracy,
but the figure which accompanies the description neither agrees with it nor with any other bird with which
I am acquainted; the black marks beneath the eye and on the chest, although so well described, are
not indicated, and the feet, which are said to be yellow, are figured of a dark brown. The T pygmceus of
Spix, which is so accurately described and figured that it cannot be mistaken for the bird here represented,
is a native o f the northern parts o f Brazil; the T . rufigaster is said to be from Cayenne ; and the present
bird, so far as I am aware, is confined to Southern Brazil; the numerous specimens in my collection are
all from the Amazon and Bahia.
The nest, as will be seen, is ingeniously attached with spiders’-webs to the extremity o f a leaf o f a
Dicotyledonous plant, and is composed o f various line silky and cottony vegetable fibres mixed with spider’s-
web and portions of a fungus (?) resembling wo o l; in form it is round, deep, cup-shaped, and tapers to a
lengthened point at the bottom. The nest figured is in my own collection, and I also possess another con-
taining two eggs, procured by Mr. Hawkswell at Buena Vista in June 1848.
The eggs are two in number, o f a pinky white, about seven-sixteenths of an inch in length by about five-
sixteenths in breadth.
The male has the bill black, except the basal two-thirds o f the lower mandible which is yellow; crown of
the head, back o f the neck, back and shoulders bronzy green, the green predominating on the latter;
stripe over and behind the eye and all the under surface, except a few white feathers on the lower part of
the abdomen, deep buff; ear-coverts and a tuft o f feathers on the chest black ; rump and upper tad-coverts
reddish buff; tail bronzy brown with green reflexions, all the feathers tipped with buff, w ic co our
becomes rather paler on the tips of the two centre ones ; wings deep purplish brown; outer side o f tarsi
clothed with short huffy brown feathers; feet and inner part o f tarsi yellow; claws dark brown; eyes
blackish brown.
Total length, 3± inches; bill, 1-jV ; wing, l i ; tail, 1 | ; tarsus,
The female is similar in colour to the male, but is smaller in size.
The figures represent a male and a female of the natural size.