3 1 . P h a b t h o r n i s s u p e r c i l io s a .
™ M I „ * i . . . . . . Vol. I. PI. 28.
Phaethorms P r e tr e i..........................................................................
Polytmus Cayanensis longicaudus, Briss. Om. tom. ni. p. 686, 13, tab. 35. fig, 5.
Trochilus superciliosus, Linn. Syst. Nat. tom. i. p. 139 ; Lath. Ind. Orn. tom. i . p. 302; Wied, Bextr. tom. xv.
p. 116; “ Licht.” Nordm. Erm. Reis. At!, p. 2, 16.
________ Pretrei, Delatt. et Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 20.
________ brasiliensis, Cab. in Schomb. Reis. Guian. tom. iii. p. 708.
Ptetorois Pretrei, Gray, Gen. o f Birds, vol. i. p. 104, Phoetomü, sp. 16, pi. 36 ; Bonap, Consp. Gen. Av. tom. 1.
p. 68, Phaetomis. sp. 15.
Trochilus affinis, Natt. in Mus. Vindob.
Phathomis affinis, Pelzeln, Sitz. Acad. Wien, 1857, p. 157.
Phaethomis superciliosus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 9.
Habitat. Eastern Brazil.
As in the case o f P . malar is, the above list o f synonyms is given on the authority o f Dr. Cabanis.
Ë . . . . . . Vol. I. PI. 29. 3 2 . P h a b t h o r n i s A u g u s t i . . . • • • ■ • • •
Phaethomis Augusti, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14 ; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12.
Habitat. Venezuela.
3 3 . P h a é t h o r n i s s q c a l id a .
Phaethomis in t e rm e d iu s ................................................................................................................................
Trochilus squalidus, “ Natt.” Temm. PI. Col. 120. fig. 1 ; Less. Man. d’Om. p. 289 ; Id. Hist. Nat. des. Col. p. 40,
pi. 8 ; Id. Traité d’Om. p. 289 ; Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 125.
________ intermedius, Less. Troch. p . 65, pi. 19 ; Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p , 123.
________ leucophrys, “ Licht.” Nordm. Erm. Reis. Atl. p. 2 ,1 8 .
Phathomis squalidus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 151 ; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 68, sp. 11 ;
Burm. Th. Bras. tom. ii. p. 325.
________ intermedius, Jard. N a t Lib- Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 150; Gray & Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, vol. i.
p. 104, sp. 8 ; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. tom. i. p. 67, Phaetomis, sp. 8.
. leucophrys, Gray & Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, vol. i. p. 104, sp. 4.
________brasiliensis, Gray & Mitch. Gen. o f Birds, vol i. p. 104, sp. 10.
Ptyonomis intermedia, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 14 ; Id. Troch. Enum. p. 12.
Phaethomis squalida, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 8.
Habitat. South-eastern Brazil.
We now come to that section to which Bonaparte gave the generic name o f Pygmornis.
G e n u s P y g m o e n i s , Bonap.
As the term implies, these birds are all extremely diminutive ; so minute, indeed, are they, that, if subjected to
the balance, their tiny bodies must be weighed by grains. That these mites o f birds perform some important office
in the scale of nature is certain, from the number both o f species and individuals : they are very widely dispersed
over every part o f the great country which is inhabited by this extensive family o f birds ; with the exception o f one
species, however (th e P . Adolphi), they all fly to the southward o f the Isthmus o f Panama. How minute must be
the insects taken by these diminutive birds, how perfect must be their vision, and how delicately sensitive must be
their tongue !
The only external difference between the sexes consists in the longer and more graduated tails o f the females ;
in colour they are as nearly alike as possible.
3 4 . P y g m o r n i s L o n g u e m a r e i .
Phaéthornis Longuemareus Vol. I. PI. 31.
Trochilus Longuemareus, Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming-Birds, vol. ii. p. 126; Cab. in Schomb. Reis. Guian.
tom. iii. p. 709.
Phathomis Longuemareus, Jard. Nat. Lib. vol. ii. p. 151.
Pygmornis Longuemarei, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note.
Habitat. Cayenne, Guiana, Trinidad, and the eastern part o f Venezuela.
3 5 . P y g m o r n i s A m a u r a .
Phaéthornis Amaura Vol. L 32-
Pygmornis amaura, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil ni. p. 7, note.
Habitat. Banks of the River Napo.
3 6 . P y g m o r n i s A s p a s i /e .
Phaéthornis viridicaudata, G o u l d Vol. 33,
Trochilus Aspasia, Bourc. et Muls. Ann. de la Soc. Linn, de Lyon, tom. iii. 1856.
Trochylus ( Polytmus) pygmaus, Tschudi, Consp. p. 3 6 ; Id. Faun. Per. p. 243.
Pygmornis viridicaudata, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note.
Habitat. Brazil and Peru.
37. P y g m o r n i s z o n u r a , Gould.
Phaéthornis zonura, G o u l d Vol. I. PI. 34.
Habitat. Peru.
38. P y g m o r n i s A d o l p h i .
Phaéthornis Adolphi, Bourc Vol. I. PI. 35.
Pygmornis Adolphi, “ SallS, MSS.” Cab. et Hein. Mus. H ein. Theil iii. p, 7, note.
Habitat. Central America.
“ This,” says Mr. Salvin, “ is an abundant species in the forest about Yzabal, but the density of the under
growth renders it extremely difficult to obtain a shot at so small and active an object. The bird is by no means
shy, and takes but little notice o f an observer—even searching the flowers almost within arm’s reach for the insects
and honey therein contained. In movement it is extremely elegant and graceful, and, flitting from flower to flower,
shows its beautifully-formed tail conspicuously in every motion. Like all others o f its family, it selects a small
twig for its perch, giving preference to a dead one. While at rest it trims its feathers dexterously with its bill,
which every now and then it cleans by rubbing it first on one side and then on the other o f the twig on which it
stands.”— Ibis, vol. i. p. 127.
39. P y g m o r n i s g r i s b o g u l a r i s , Gould.
Phaethomis griseogularis, G o u l d Vol. I. PI. 36,
Pygmornis griseigularis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 8.
Habitat. New Granada; and Ecuador ?
In my description o f this species I have inadvertently stated that it has a crescent o f black across the breast,
which is not the case.
Mr. Bell o f New York informs me that he has heard the “ little Pygmornis of Panama ” (by which I believe the
present bird is intended) “ sing beautifully, the notes forming a soft, shrill, and pretty song.”
40. P y g m o r n i s s t r i ig u l a r i s , Gould.
Phaethomis striigularis, Gould . . . . . • • • • • • • Vol. I. P . 37.
Pygmornis striigularis, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note.
Habitat. New Granada.
41. P y g m o r n i s I d a h ^e .
Phaethomis obscura, G o u l d .......................................................................................................................... p f | A §¡1
Trochilus Idalia, Bourc. et Muls. Ann. de la Soc. Linn, de Lyon, tom. iii. 1856.
Pygmornis obscura, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note.
Habitat. Brazil.
4 2 . P y g m o r n i s n ig r ic in c t a .
Phaéthornis nigricinctus, Vol. I. PI. 39. fig. 1.
Pygmornis nigricincta, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 7, note.
Habitat. The forests bordering the upper part o f the River Amazon.