Thaumatias albiventris

Brazil, the neighbourhood of Sta. Catharina (Bourcier).

This well-marked species differs from all the other members of its genus in being of a larger size than either of them, and in having a greater amount of white on the abdomen and under tail-coverts.

The two sexes are so much alike in outward appearance that I have looked in vain for any decided difference by which they may be distinguished; I observe, however, that the female, as is the case with most of the Humming Birds, is somewhat smaller and less pure in her colouring.

M. Bourcier informs me that this bird inhabits Santa Catharina, in Brazil, and remarks that it bears a great resemblance to the Thaumatias Linnæi, but differs from that species in the larger size of its body, and in the abdomen being always white in the adult.

M. Bourcier also tells me, that the specimen from which Vieillot took his description of tephrocephalus is still in the museum at Paris, but in a very bad state, with the feathers of the head much worn and faded, and presenting a grey appearance, which doubtless suggested the appellation Vieillot assigned to it, and which, being intended to express a feature that does not exist, must give place to that of albiventris, applied to it by M. Lesson.

Besides Santa Catharina, the northern parts of Brazil, and the Delta of the Amazon, near its embouchure, and the neighbouring country are frequented by this bird.

Head, all the upper surface, wing- and tail-coverts dark green; wings purplish brown; two central tailfeathers and the basal portion of the remainder dull green, the extent of which decreases as they recede from the centre, middle portion of the lateral feathers blackish brown; the tips brownish grey, increasing in extent as the feathers recede from the centre; throat and chest shining grass-green; flanks dull green; abdomen and under tail-coverts white.

The figures represent the two sexes of the size of life. The plant is copied from a drawing sent to me by Mr. Reeves.

References

• Trochilus tephrocephalus, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’ Hist. Nat., tom. xxi. p. 430.—Ib. Ency. Méth. Orn., part ii. p. 560.—Ib. Traité d’Orn., p. 283.
• Ornismya tephrocephalus, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 182. pl. 62.
• Ornismya albiventris, Less. Hist. Nat. des Ois. Mou., p. 209. pl. 76.—Ib. Les Troch., p. 94. pl. 82.—Ib. Traité d’Orn., p. 283.
• Polytmus thaumatias, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 40.
• Coeligena tephrocephala, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 7.—Ib. Troch. enumer., p. 3. pl. dclxxxvii. fig. 4518.
• Argytria albiventris, Reichenb. Troch. enumer., p. 7. pl. dcclvii. figs. 4744, 4745.
• Thaumatias albwentris, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 78, Thaumatias, sp. 1.
• Thaumantias albwentris, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 255.