PHAETHORNIS BOURCIERL.

Bourcier’s Hermit.

Trochilus Bourcieri, Less. Les 'Troch., p. 62. pl. 18.
Phetornis Bourcieri, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. 1. p. 104, Phetornis, sp. 9.

Phaétornis bourcieri, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 67, Phaétornis, sp. 9.

 

I peLieve Cayenne to be the native country of this species of Phaéthornis, which, although assimilating in
colour to many of its allies, may be readily distinguished by the nearly straight form of its bill and by the
almost uniform greyish white tint of the throat and under surface; in size it is much smaller than P. super-
ciliosus or P. Eurynome.

M. Lesson has named this pretty species Bourcieri, in honour of a gentleman whose collection of the
Trochilidee is the most celebrated and complete on the Continent; whose devotion to the subject is so well
known, and who, by his researches while Consul for the French Government at Quito, has contributed so
largely to our knowledge of this lovely group of birds.

The sexes are alike in plumage, but the female is smaller than the male.

Head, upper surface and wing-coverts bronzy green ; wings purplish brown ; tail-coverts bronzy green,
with a crescent of brown near the extremity, and tipped with buff ;
on the middle of the feathers and on the extremity of their inner we
the extreme end of the inner web fringed with whitish ; the lengthened and narrower portion of the two
black, gradually passing ‘nto the white of their apices; under surface greyish
, and clouded with dusky on the flanks; upper
at the point, where it becomes of a dark brown

tail bronzy green, deepening into black

bs; the tip of the outer web buff, and

central feathers brownish
buff, palest on the throat, abdomen and under tail-coverts
mandible dark brown ; under mandible straw-yellow, except
hue; feet yellowish brown.

In young birds the feathers of the upper surface are fringed with rufous.
The front figure is of the natural size.