ENT OD) Ui CTE ON: IXxxv

Dr. Cabanis, in his ‘ Museum Heineanum,’ is of opinion that the generic name of Polytmus, proposed by Brisson in
1760, is the one under which they should be retained. Although I concur in this opinion, I cannot agree with him
in placing them near to the genus Glaucis; and I may be open to criticism in ranging them here, but I really cannot
find a better situation for them. I have stated that there are two species of this form, but I have some reason to
believe there is a third, as I have a small specimen collected by M. Warszewicz on the River Magdalena, which may
prove to be distinct; but until I have further evidence that such is the case, I decline to characterize it: indepen-

dently of its smaller size, it has much more white on the tail than any other I have seen.

Genus Potyrmus, Briss.

The P. virescens and P. viridissimus are the only species yet characterized of this genus. They are distinguished
by the golden hues of their throats. A great similarity exists between the sexes; but the young of P. virescens

have reddish-brown breasts, and are altogether different in colour from the adults.

255. PoLyTMUS VIRESCENS.
Chrysobronchus virescens : ; ; : : : : : ’ : 5 Vol LV. Plo 230;
Polytmus thaumantias, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 5.

Habitat. Trinidad; Venezuela; and New Granada?

256. PoLYTMUS VIRIDISSIMUS.
Chrysobronchus viridicaudus : ; : ; ; : ; : ; : i Vol. IV. Pl. 231.

Ornismya viridis, Less. Les Troch. p. 96, pl. 33.
Trochilus virescens, Wied., Beitr. iv. p. 107.
Amazilia viridissima, Bonap. Gen. Av. tom. 1. p. 77, Amazilia, sp. 4.
Smaragditis viridissima, Reichenb. Aufz. der Col. p. 7.
Chrysobronchus viridissimus, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 252.
Chlorestes viridissimus, Reichenb. Troch. Enum. p. 4, pl. 695. figs. 4547-48.
Thaumatias viridissimus, Burm. Th. Bras. tom. i. p. 344.
Thaumatias chrysurus, Burm. ib. p. 345.
Trochilus viridicaudus, Sauc. MSS.
prasinus, Licht. in Mus. of Berlin.
Polytmus Theresie, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 5.

Habitat. The banks of the Amazon, from Para to the confines of Peru. I have also received specimens from

Demerara.

I have before stated that it would be impossible to arrange the Humming-Birds on the, score of affinity ; and
I repeat that the various genera are so widely different, and so many connecting forms are wanting, that it is quite
out of the question to attempt their arrangement on this ground. It is of little importance, then, where we place
the bird known under the name of Patagona gigas and distinguished from all others by its great size, its ample
wings, its sombre colouring, and by the similarity in the plumage of the two sexes. At present the single species
which has been characterized, and which ranges from Ecuador to the southern parts of Chili, where it it a migrant,
is all that is known of this form; but I observe that the Chilian and Ecuadorian specimens differ considerably

in size, the latter being the largest.

Genus Paracona, G. R. Gray.

257. PATAGONA GIGAS. : : : Volt IVs Bi.23)
Hypermetra gigas, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 81.
Trochilus gigas, Bridges, Proc. of Zool. Soc. part xi. p. 114; Darwin, Zool. of Beagle, part ii. Birds, p. 111.
Habitat. Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile.
“The American Aloe (Agave Americana) is the only plant this bird is ever seen feeding upon in Ecuador.” —
Jameson and Fraser in Ibis, vol. i. p. 400.

“This species,’ says Mr. Darwin, “is common in Central Chile. It is a large bird for the delicate family to which
it belongs. At Valparaiso, in the year 1834, I saw several of these birds in the middle of August, and I was
informed they had only lately arrived from the parched deserts of the north. Towards the middle of September
(the vernal equinox) their numbers were greatly increased. They breed in Central Chile, and replace, as I have
before said, the foregoing species’ (Hustephanus galeritus), “which migrates southward for the same purpose. The

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