THRENETES ANTONIA.

Sooty Barbed-throat.

Trochilus Antonie, Bourc. et Muls. in Ann. de la Soc. d’Agr. &c. de Lyon, 1846, p. 329.
Polytmus Antonie, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 108, Polytmus, sp. 37.
Lamporms Antonie, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 72, Lophornis, sp. 8.

 

Auruoven this species has been long known to ornithologists, it was only in the year 1846 that it received
a scientific appellation, M. Bourcier then assigning to it the name of Antone in honour of Madame Antonia
Perroud, the wife of a learned entomologist. Since then it has been transferred to the genus Polytmus by
Mr. G. R. Gray, and to Lampornis by the Prince of Canino. That it does not belong to either of those
genera, or to any other at present established, is certain, and I have therefore been necessitated to propose
a new generic term for it and its near ally 7. Jeucurus. 'The circumstance of its having remained so long
undescribed by Lesson and others, who have professed to give complete monographs of this group of birds,
is doubtless due to its being unadorned by any brilliant or metallic colouring ; its sombre plumage, however,
does not, in my opinion, detract from its interest as a species ; for in the economy of nature, this dull-coloured
bird plays a part of equal consequence with those of its most gaily attired allies.

The native country of the 7. Antonie is Cayenne, and the neighbouring countries ; but the precise extent
of its range has not yet been ascertained: I have never seen it from Trinidad or Northern Brazil.

The sexes are very similar in the colouring of their plumage, and I have seen specimens which appear to
be immature, which do not materially differ.

The entire plumage both above and beneath of a very dark greenish bronze ; wings dark purplish brown ;
central tail-feathers greenish bronze; lateral feathers purplish brown, glossed at the base with greenish
bronze ; bill brownish black ; feet light yellow.

The Plate represents two examples of the natural size. The plant is a species of Sia, common in the
country where the bird is found.