Phaëthornis superciliosus

Lesson has given a tolerably good figure of this species in the fourth plate of his “Histoire Naturelle des Colibris,” while the figure in the next plate, which he states to be the female, has reference not only to another species, but to one pertaining to a distinct form, to which the generic appellation of Glaucis has been given: it represents, in fact, either the young of G. hirsutus or G. Mazeppa, as is shown by the concentric marks on the back, and the pointed white tips of the tail-feathers.

It is surprising that Lesson should have thus erred, for had he studied the members of the genus Phaëthornis even but superficially, he must have observed that no difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes, and that the young assume the livery and the same form of tail as the adults from the earliest age.

The Phaëthornis superciliosus appears to have been known to Linnæus and most of the older writers. It is one of the commonest species of the genus, examples having been sent to Europe for at least the last hundred years. Its native countries are Guiana, Cayenne, and Surinam; its range is known to extend towards Brazil as far as the confluence of the Amazon, but, I believe, does not advance farther south than Bahia, which Mr. Reeves informs me is one of the provinces in which it is found. It is believed that the sexes differ little in colour, but that in size the female is a trifle smaller than her mate.

The term superciliosus applied to this species is by no means an appropriate or distinctive appellation, all the species of the genus being similarly marked; but a name once applied cannot be changed.

Head, upper surface and wing-coverts bronzy brown, darkest on the head; lores and ear-coverts blackish brown, bounded above and below by stripes of buff; wings dark purplish brown; rump and upper tail-coverts barred with bronze and brown; lateral tail-feathers bronzy green at the base, the apical portion blackish brown, with an arrow-head-shaped mark of buff at the tip; two centre tail-feathers bronzy green at the base, blackish brown for the second third of their length, the prolonged or apical third white, gradually blending with the dark hue of the middle portion; under surface dusky fawn-colour, clouded with dark brown approaching to black on the throat; under tail-coverts buff; upper mandible black; the basal three-fourths of the under mandible fleshy red, the tip black.

The figures are of the size of life. The plant is the Astrocaryum rostratum.

It will be seen that the [below] list of synonyms differs from that given with my account of this species. I adopt these synonyms on the authority of Dr. Cabanis, who considers that I am in error in applying the term superciliosus to the bird I have figured under that name, and that it properly belongs to the one I have called Pretrei,—an opinion which is probably correct, as the German naturalists are doubtless better acquainted with the type specimens of continental writers than we can be: the synonyms of malaris and superciliosus are therefore given in accordance with the views of Dr. Cabanis.

References

More hummingbirds in the genus Phaëthornis

• Phœthornis Eurynome Eurynome Hermit
• Phaëthornis fraterculus Allied Hermit
• Phaëthornis cephalus Mexican Hermit
• Phaëthornis syrmatophorus Train-bearing Hermit
• Phaëthornis Philippi De Filippi’s Hermit
• Phaëthornis hispidus Hairy Hermit
• Phaëthornis Oseryi D’Orsery’s Hermit
• Phaëthornis anthophilus Pallid Hermit
• Phaëthornis Bourcieri Bourcier’s Hermit
• Phaëthornis Guy Guy’s Hermit
• Phaëthornis Yarugui Yaruquian Hermit
• Phaëthornis Pretrei Pretre’s Hermit
• Phaëthornis Augusti Sallé’s Hermit
• Phaëthornis intermedius Middle-sized Hermit