Phæoptila sordida

Oaxaca in Mexico

Of this dull-coloured and sombre-looking Humming-Bird I have seen three examples, all of which I am sure are adult, and so much alike that they present no variation in colour; it is probable therefore that the sexes are precisely similar except in size, in which point they appear to differ.

The native country of this species is the western side of Oaxaca in Mexico, whence they were received by M. Sallé of Paris. At first I considered the natural position of this bird to be among the Cyanomyiæ, and I accordingly described it under that generic title; but on reflection I have deemed it advisable to make it the type of a new genus, a step am the more disposed to take from the circumstance of there being, I believe, a second species of this form from Bolanos in the Loddigesian collection.

In many species of Humming-Bird tufts of white feathers occupy the sides of the back, which white tufts fall gracefully over the crossed wing when the bird is alive and sitting on the branch of a tree; in the present species this character is more than usually conspicuous, as will be seen on reference to the accompanying Plate.

The male has the head and under surface greyish brown; behind the eye a spot of white; all the upper surface and the sides of the neck dull bronzy green; on each side of the back a conspicuous tuft of white; wings purplish brown; tail dark greenish bronze, approaching to black on the base of the under surface; under tail-coverts very pale brown with lighter edges; bill flesh-colour for seven-eighths from the base and dark at the tip.

The female is similar, but paler in colour.

The figures are of the natural size. The plant is the Echinocactus visnagra.

References

• Cyanomyia? sordida, Gould, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., 8rd ser. vol. iv. 1859, p. 97.
• Cyanomyia sordida, Sclat. in Proe. of Zool. Soc., part xxvii. p. 386.
• Uranomitra sordida, Cab. Mus. Hein., Theil iii. p. 41, note.