GRYPUS NAVIUS.

Saw-bill.

Trochilus nevius, Dumont, Dict. des Sci. Nat., tom. xvii. p- 432.—Temm. PI. Col. 120. fig. 3.—
Vieill. Eney. Méth. Orn., part 1. p. 548.—Ib. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxviii.
p- 481.—Drap. Dict. Class. d’Hist. Nat., tom. iv. p- 320.

squamosus, Licht. in Mus. Berlin.
Grypus ruficollis, Spix, Av. Bras., vol. i. p- 79. t., lxxx. die. 3.
Melhsuga ? nevia, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 248. pk. 29.
Ramphodon maculatum, Less. Hist. Nat. des Col., p- IS. el Er:
= nevus, Jard. Nat. Lib, Humming-Birds, vol. i. p. Of. pe I
Grypus nevius, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p- 105.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av.,
p- 67.

 

SouTuEerN Braziz would seem to enjoy the privilege of claiming this bird as peculiarly its own, as it is
from that country alone that specimens have as yet been received. I regard it as the only species of the
genus that has been discovered; for although I have often thought that the smaller specimens, with more
slender and more curved bills, were different, I now believe they will prove to be females of the present
species. Mr. Reeves of Rio de Janeiro, who has had some opportunities of observing both the larger and
the smaller birds in a state of nature, has been unable to satisfy himself whether they are or are not distinct,
but is inclined to think that they are so, because he has remarked that the smaller birds arrive earlier and
remain longer than the larger ones: against such an opinion, however, may be adduced the facts of their
inhabiting the same locality at the same season of the year, and that in the nearly allied genera Glaucis and
Phaéthornis, a corresponding difference is found in the size of the sexes, the females being much less than
the males. In the character and colouring of their plumage too, both the larger and smaller birds are
precisely alike even to a feather; on the other hand, in the form of their bills, and in the breadth
of their tail-feathers, they are very different; so much so, that many genera have been established on
much slighter grounds. It will be for Mr. Reeves, or some other naturalist, who may be favourably
situated for investigating the subject, to ascertain with certainty what may be the real state of the case.
MM. Delalande and Natterer found this species chiefly on the mountains of Corcovado, in the vicinity
of Rio de Janeiro; and in some notes kindly sent me by Mr. Reeves, respecting this and other
species that have come under his observation, that gentleman says, that ‘it also inhabits Rio de Janeiro,
but is by no means common, and is very rarely seen in the lowlands. Some years ago, when at Novo
Friburgo, I had an opportunity of seeing several examples of this bird. They frequented the virgin forests,
and seemed to take their food from under the branches of trees, and even at times from the stumps of
decayed trees. On one occasion, after shooting a fine male bird; I discovered in its throat a small species
of coleoptera, which had probably been taken from the crevices of an old tree; if such, however, be the
case, the birds must be very expert in the operation of rooting out these small insects, as I observed they
usually remained motionless in the air only for a second before they made the stoop, which was done so
rapidly, that I often doubted, and still doubt, whether they always succeeded in capturing their prey.
I never remember seeing this bird near the city. The virgin forests some ten leagues from Novo Friburgo
are its favourite haunts; and it is only met with in those unfrequented localities during the months of
July, August and September, and occasionally October.”

I have also been favoured with some further information respecting this bird by M. Deyrolle, which,
slight though it is, I have great pleasure in adding :—

“The Grypus nevius,” says M. Deyrolle, “is common in all parts of the province of Santa Catharina in
Brazil, but is more frequently met with in woody situations than elsewhere. Its flight is exceedingly
noisy, very vigorous, and capable of being sustained for a great length of time, the bird rarely alighting.
Its cry is so loud and piercing as to be heard above everything else, while it flutters around the flowers of

various species of Orchids, from which it obtains its principal nourishment.”