ANDRODON jEQUATQBMLIS, GoM .
ANDRODON ^EQUATORIALI S, Gould.
Ecuadorian Tooth-bill.
Androdon eequatorialis, Gould, Ann. & Mag. N a t. H ist. 1 8 6 3 , vol. xii. p. 2 4 7 .— Elliot’s Syn.
p. 5 , 1 8 7 9 .
Gryphm eequatorialis, Muls. H ist. N a t. Ois.-Mouch. tom. i. p. 3 2 , pi.
It was a source of great pleasure to me that such an interesting form of Humming-bird had been discovered
since my great Monograph was published. Of this curious Humming-bird, according to my statement in
the ‘Annals,’ I had but two specimens—one whose bill was armed with teeth, and a hook at the end of
each mandible ; the other was toothless in the same organ, and the upper bill did not end in a hook.
Judging from this difference in the bills, the male only had teeth ending in a hook, the bill of the female
is straighter and smooth at the edges, as will be seen by a glance at the drawing.
This singular form of Androdon has its alliances, although they are not very near; Gryphus, and Eutoxeres
may be stated as two o f them ; these forms, I believe, run into Glaucis and Phaethornis. The form about which
I am now writing has moderately large wings, while the tail-feathers are half covered ; tarsi and feet very
small.-
As I have never seen a line written on the history of the Ecuadorian Tooth-bill, I fear some repetition of
my original description must be added; for myself, I literally do not know any thing about its habits and
economy.
The following appeared in the ‘Annals ’ :—
“ I send for insertion in your next Number a description of a new and very singular Humming-bird which
I have lately received from Ecuador. Not only does it differ specifically from every other with which I am
acquainted, but it also differs in its structure from every form comprised in the great family of Trochilidae.
“ This new bird is so very singular that it is not easy to say to which section of the family it is most
nearly related; but in some of its characters it assimilates with Gryphus, Eutoxeres, and Doryfera. In size
it is about equal to Lampornis mango; the edges of its mandibles are thickly set with fine teeth, like those
o f Gryphus, but more strongly developed; the bill is very long for the size of the bird, and has rather an
upward curvature; the wings are moderate in proportion to the body; and the tail is square or slightly
rounded. The bird must be ranked among the dull-coloured species o f its extensive family; at the same
time it exhibits some approach to a metallic lustre in the blue or bronzy-red colouring of the hinder part
of the crown. I say blue or bronzy-red, because the only specimens I have seen differ in this way, as they
also do in the form o f the bill,— the one with a blue crown having the toothing strongly developed, and
the bill terminating in spiny hooks which cross each other when that organ is closed; whilst the other
with a bronzy-red crown has a longer bill, the serrations are not developed, and the spiny hooks are
wanting. The tarsi are partly bare o f feathers ; and the feet are small, pale in colour, and with very long
black nails. The back in both is bronzy green; the rump apparently crossed with white feathers, while
the upper tail-coverts are bluish ; the tail-feathers are pale olive-grey at the base crossed with a band of
blackish green near the tip, the three outer ones on each side being largely tipped with white; wings
purplish brown, with epaulets of light grey, similar in form to those seen in Helianthea eos\ all the under
surface grey, with a conspicuous streak of blackish brown down the feathers o f the throat, as in Eutoxeres.
“ Total length 51 inches, bill If, wing 11, tail If.
“ Hah. Ecuador.”