440 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



sex ; the feathors very bro;ul, iuul rounded at the ends ; primaries normal, 

 tlic outer broad to the end, and moderately bowed. 



Lampornis.' Bill cylindrical, considerably curved. Wing very long, 

 rcarliing to, or beyond, the tip of the very broad tail. Size large (wing, 

 2 oO, or more). The male dark-colored (green or black) beneath. Se.>;es 

 sometimes alike (in West Indies). 



B. Nasal operculum entirely uncovered ; base of bill very liroad. Female 



with tail-frallieis not tipped with white. 



Heliopcedica. i-^rxcs alike in form. First primary longest, much 

 bowed toward end. Tail more than two thirds the wing, nearly square 

 (a little emarginated in the (J, slighth' rounded in the 9), the feathers 

 very broad, rounded at ends. Color, metallic green above, white or 

 rulbus glossed with green below ; a conspicuous w'hite post-ocular 

 stripe, and an auricular one of black beneath it. ^. Forehead and 

 chin black or metallic blue ; throat rich metallic green. $ . Forehead 

 dull brownish green ; chin and throat white, glossed with green, or 

 plain oehraeeous ; tail plain liluish-black or purplish-rufous, the middle 

 featliers more or less green. 



Thaumatias. Se.xes alike in form and color. General form of Hrlin- 

 jiccdiai, hul tail emarginated, instead of rounded. Color nearly uniform 

 green, with or without white throat and abdomen. Tail grayish-dusky, 

 with an obscure subterminal band of black (with basal tliree fourths 

 white in T. chioniirus). 



Habits. The habits and manners of tlie whole family of TrochiliJrr are, in 

 many striking respects, entirely iieculiar to themselves, aud without aii}- known 

 correspondence or close resemblance to those of any other kinds of Ijirds, 

 either in America or elsewhere. This family is found e.xclusively in Amer- 



1 Genus Liiinjmrnis, SwAixs. Char. Size large (wing, 2.50) ; tail large, more than half the 

 wing, the feathers '\'cry broad ; usually a little rounded, sometimes slightly emarginated (as in 

 L. ntaiigo, L. virginalis, and L. aiiruhntiis). Bill cylindrical, considerably curved, its vertical 

 thickness least at about the middle. Nasal opcrcula nearly covered by the frontal feathers ; 

 tarsi naked. Wing very long, reaching to or beyond the tip of the tail ; first primary longest, 

 only slightly bowed, and not attenuated at tip ; inner primaries normal. 



The species of this genus belong chiefly to the West India Islands and to Tropical America, — 

 principally on the Atlantic coast. They are all of more than the average size, and distinguish(^d 

 by broad tail-feathers, and rather dull, though handsome colors. In L. porpliijrurus the sexes 

 are alike in color. The following species has been accredited to North America, but probably 

 upon erroneous data, since it belongs to northern South America, not even being an inh.abitant 

 of any of the West India Islands, except Trinidad. Still it is possible that, as alleged for Tliau- 

 vialiirx linncci (see page 1064), it may have wandered far from its usual habitat, and have reached 

 Florida, as stated by Mr. Audubon. 



Lampornis mango, (L.) Swains. — The Mango Hummer. Trochiliis matujo, L. S. N. I, 191. 

 — Gmel. S. N. I. 491. — AuD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 486 ; pi. 184. — Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 

 186, pi. celi. Lampornis mango, Sw. Zool. Journ. Ill, 358. — Bairp, Birds N. Am. 1858, 130. 

 Sp. Char. — Male : Above deep golden green ; beneath opaque velvety-black medially, from 

 the bill to the anal region, separated from the lateral aud superior given by a tint of metallic 

 greenish-blue. Tail richly metallic rufous-purple, the feathers bordered terminally with blue- 

 black ; intermedi.-B plain dark bronzy-green. Primaries plain dull dusky. Female. Similar, 

 but white beneath, except laterally, and with a medial stripe of black, from the bill to the anus. 

 Wing, 2.60-2.70 ; tail, 1.50-1.70 ; bill, .90. Bab. Northern South America (Brazil, liuiana, 

 Venezuela, New Granada, Panama, and Trinidad) ; accidental in Florida ? '. ! 



