TACHYPHOU US PH C EN IC F.U S.
TACI IYPHONUS PH(ENICEUS,
(KEU-SHOTJIDEEED TACHYPHONE).
Tacliyplionus phceniceus
Tachyphonus saucius
Tachyphovus leucocampter
Sw. A n . in Men . p. 311.
B p . Consp. 1. p. 237.
Sclater, P.Z.S. 1856, p. 116.
Sel. e t Salv. P.Z.S. 1SC7, p . 754.
Strickl. A n n . N . H . xiii. p . 419.
L ic h t. in Mu s. Berol.
t „ c t r id t a ,a k r am m m o r ib « .s « p e r io r » « B d b is , in tam p te rio ru b ,a , m te r.o n b u s o m m o
a lb i.- roBtro nig ro , m an d ib uB albo .o t a t b : p e d ib u . n i g r i . : long, to ta O í , a l . 2-S, c a n d . 2 - 6 . - í f c » . O b .o n rt
aclústacea, d o r .o oliváceo i in o to : a l i. oauddque n ig ric a n tib u ., ü la rm n ma rg in ib u s b ru nneB centnol.vacc.s: su b tu .
fulva, schistacco perfusa.
Hab. Bra sil, in t. Bo rb a (Matt-) : P c ru v . orien t. Xeberos (B a r tle tt).
In the second portion o f his volnme on “ Animnls in Menageries," which is devoted to
the deseriptioii o f new birds, Mr. Swainson shortly characterizes the present well-marked
species o f Tadajplonus, from a specimen “ hr the eolleetion o f Mr. Horsfield o f Everton, near
Liverpool, who believes it came from Fernando To on the African coast.” Mr. Swainson does
not, however, scrnple to cast doubt npou this locality, observing that “ if this is truly African,
it is a solitary exception to the strict geograpliic range o f the whole fiimily o f Tanagers.” Mr.
Swainson’s criticism was well founded, for, as is now we ll known, tho tree home o f this
rachjplwnus, as o f tho rest o f its congeners, is the New World, and not the Old. Examples
o f it were obtained by the indefatigable Natterer, in the vicinity of Borba on the lower course
o f the Madeira river, aud more recently by Mr. E. Bartlett, at Xeberos in Eastern Pern, so that
it probably has a wide range in the interior o f tho great Amazonian wood-region.
The peculiar colouring of this species o f Tachyiilione renders it easily distingaushahle,
the. blood-red Immeval spot being unique in the genus. It is likewise remarkable for possresing
rather a sliorter and stouter bill than other birds o f the same group. Tlio somewhat dissimilar
male and female arc clearly shewn to he connected by a young male specimen m transition-
plumage, in Sclatcr’s collection.
In 1844, the late Mr. Strickland described this species from a specimen in ins own
collection, under the name Tachyplwnns sauews. It lias likewise received the MS. name
leucocampter in the Berlin Museum.
Onr figures are taken from skins in Solater's collection, obtained, together witli the young
male above-mentioned, by Mr. E. Bartlett, at Xeberos, in I860.
D e c e íiber , 1867.