THAUMATIAS LINN^I , Bonap.
Linn®u s’ Emerald.
Thaumantias linneei, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 255.
Trochilus Tobaci, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 498 ?
Tobago Humming Bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 781 ?
Trochilus Tobagensis, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 316 ?
Tobago Humming Bird, var. A., Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 336 ?
U Oiseau-mouche de Tobago, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. i. p. 114?
L'Oiseau-mouche a poitrine verte (Trochilus maculatus), Aud. e t Vieill. Ois. dor., tom. i. p. 87.
pi. 4 4 ?
Trochilus Tobago, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 350 ?
Ornismga viridissima, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 207. pi. 75.
W e have here a species that has been common in our collections from the earliest period at which the
productions of South America became known to us ; but it is quite impossible to say under what name it is
designated by the older writers; this difficulty has arisen from the absence of illustrations in their works,
and from their careless and curt descriptions applying equally well to several species. M. Bourcier, of Paris,
whose opinions respecting the great group of Humming Birds are not to be questioned, has kindly favoured
jne with the above list of synonyms, as probably referring to this species, and they are given entirely on his
-authority. I I r I
The term viridissima, assigned to this species by M. Lesson, having been employed many years before by
Gmelin for another member of the family, and the other synonyms given above being, in my opinion, very
questionable I agree with M, Bourcier and Prince Charles L. Bonaparte, that it will be advantageous to
give the present bird another appellation, and I have therefore adopted that of Limxi, proposed for it by
the Prince, in honour of the great Swedish naturalist.
The native habitat of this species is Northern Brazil, Guiana, and the neighbouring countries; it is also
said to visit Tobago; but whether it is to he found in that or any other of the West Indian Islands, is unknown
to me My specimens are from Para, the Delta of the Amazon, and Guiana, and 1 believe I may also say,
from SantaFe de Bogota! for I possess examples from that locality which so closely accord with the others
that I have no doubt of their identity, the only differences being a trifling increase » the length of the bill
and a slight tipping of white to the tail-feathers. I
The s L s , Idle those of T. a l i M , very closely assimilate in colour! but the female is somewhat
smaller than her mate.
Head, a„ the upper
grass-green,^mling into duller green on the flanks; a narrow stripe down the abdomen, and the under tail-
” £ £ £ are the size of life. The plan, is copied from a drawing sent to me by Mr. Reeves.