quill-feather or primary o f which is the long e st, exc ept in the genus Aithurus, where it is exceeded by the
s e c o n d ; primaries ten in number; tarsi and fe e t very d im in u tive; tail con sisting o f ten feathers. The
entire structure adapted for aerial progression.
Subfamily I. PH AETHORNITHINiE.
I commence my first volume with that well-marked section o f the family comprising the genera Grypus,
Eutoxeres, Phdethornis, and their allies. The members o f all these genera are remarkable for being destitute o f
metallic brilliancy, and, as their trivial name o f “ hermits ” implies, for affecting dark and gloomy situations. They
constitute, perhaps, the only group o f the great family o f Humming-Birds which frequent the interior o f the
forests, and there obtain their insect food, some from the undersides o f the leaves o f the great trees, while others
assiduously explore their stems in search o f such lurking insects as may be concealed in the crevices o f the bark.
I t has been said that spiders constitute the food o f many species o f this group; and I believe that such is the case,
for we find the bills admirably adapted for their capture, particularly those o f Grypus and Eutoxeres. To individualize
by name any particular country in South America in which these birds are found is unnecessary, for they
are generally distributed over its temperate and hotter portions; but they are n ot to be met with either very far
north or very far south o f the equator; that is to say, their range is bounded northwardly by Southern Mexico,
and southwardly by Bolivia. Within these limits, the high and the low lands are alike tenanted by th em; but it
is in the equatorial region that they are the most numerous, and where all, or nearly all, the genera have representatives.
In the colouring o f their plumage the sexes are generally alike. As a whole, they form a well-marked
division, distinguished by their own especial peculiarities o f form and style o f plumage.
Genus Grypus, Spix.
This form, which comprises two species, both natives o f Brazil, is remarkable for the bill o f the male being
different in structure from that o f the female.
1 . G r y p u s nxEv i u s ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
PJuetkornis navius, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 152.
Ramphodon navius, Reichenb. Aufz. derCol. p. 1 5 ; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12; Cab. e t Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 3.
Habitat. South-eastern Brazil.
2 . G r y p u s S p i x i , Vol. I . PI. 2 .
Ramphodon chrysurus, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 1 5 ; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12 ?
Habitat. Brazil.
The law o f adaptation is perhaps equally carried out in every one o f the multiplied forms, not only o f ornitho ■
logy, but o f every other department o f nature’s works, each being constructed for some given purpose contributing
to the well-being o f the animal; in some instances, however, particular developments are more striking and singular
than in others. The form to which the generic name o f Eutoxeres has been given is a case in point. O f this
remarkable genus two species are known, both o f which are natives o f the Andes o f Ecuador, New Granada, and
Veragua. I t would be most interesting to become acquainted with their peculiar modes o f life, and to ascertain for
what end their singularly curved bills were designed. Some persons affirm that it is for the purpose o f probing the
scaly covering o f the upright stems o f certain trees, and others for the exploration o f peculiar cup-shaped flowers,
such as that o f the orchid which I have figured in the plate o f Eutoxeres Aquila. Whatever may be the design,
future research must determine i t ; all .that we at present know is, that this form does exist, and that there is no
other which approaches to it. In size the two species are very similar; but there are good and plain specific
characters by which they may be distinguished, and which will, I trust, be sufficiently apparent on reference to the
plates in which the birds are represented.
Genus E u t o x e r e s , Reichenb.
The oldest-known species of this form is the—
3. E u t o x e r e s A q u il a . . . . • • ........................................................................Vol. I. PI. 3.
Eutoxeres Aquila, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 1 5 ; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 1 2 ; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil in.
p. 3, note.
Myidetina aquila, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 249.
Habitat. Costa Rica, New Granada, and Ecuador.
The following notes respecting this species, by Dr. J. King Merritt, will be read with interest. They are
extracted from the 6th volume o f the ‘ Annals o f the Lyceum of Natural History o f N ew York,’ p. 139
« I t was, as near as I can recollect, during the month o f September 1852, that I saw for the first time and
obtained a specimen o f this (to me) curious and novel bird. I was at that time stationed in the mountainous
district o f Belen, province o f Veragua, New Granada.
« My attention at that particular period was directed towards the collection o f specimens o f the Humming-
Bird family. One day, while out hunting a short distance from the camp, I was startled by the swift approach of
a small object through the close thicket, which darted like a rifle-bullet past me, with a loud hum and buzzing of
wings. Indeed, it was this great noise that accompanied its flight that especially attracted my attention as something
uncommon.
“ The bird continued its flight but a short distance beyond the spot where I stood, when it suddenly stopped
In its rapid course directly in front o f a flower. There for a moment poising itself in this position, it darted upon
the flower in a peculiar manner; in feet, the movements which now followed were exceedingly curious. Instead
o f inserting its beak into the calyx by advancing in a direct line towards the flower, as customary with this class
o f birds, this one performed a curvilinear movement, at first stooping forward while it introduced its beak into the
calyx, and then, when apparently the point o f the beak had reached the desired locality in the flower, its body
suddenly dropped downwards, so that it seemed as though it was suspended from the flower by the beak. That
this was not actually the case, the continued rapid movement o f its wings demonstrated beyond a doubt. In this
position it remained the ordinary length o f time, and then, by performing these movements in the reverse order
and direction, it freed itself from the flower, and afterwards proceeded to the adjoining one, when the same opera-
tion was repeated as already described.
“ The flower from which it fed is somewhat peculiar in form, &c. The plant belongs to the Palm species, and
grows in low marshy places, on or near the margins o f rivers and mountain streams. It consists o f a dozen or
more straight stems, each o f which terminates above in a broad expanded leaf that somewhat resembles the plantain.
These stems all start from a clump at the surface o f the ground, but they immediately separate and slightly
diverge from each other. The stems with the leaf grow to the height of six to ten feet, more or less. From one
or two o f the centre stems a flower-stalk puts forth, which hangs pendent, and to thi3 are attached alternately on
either side the flowers, while the space between each corresponds with the attachment o f the one on the opposite
side o f the stalk.
“ The flower resembles somewhat in form the Roman helmet inverted, and is attached, as it were, by the point
o f the crest to the stalk. It is a fleshy mass, and the cavity o f the calyx extends in a tortnons manner downwards
towards the attachment o f the flower to the stalk.”
Vol. I. PI. 4.
4. E u t o x e r e s Co n d a m in e i • . . . . . .
Eutoxeres ConJammei, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 15; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hern. Theil 111.
p. 3, note.
Myidetina condamini, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 249.
Habitat. Eastern Ecuador.
For the knowledge o f the existence of E. Condaminei science is indebted to the researches o f M. Bourcier, w o
brought specimens from Archidona.
Genus G l a u c i s , Boie .
This genus comprises, as far as at present ascertained, six well-determined species, three o f which are very
m m