TROCIIILID.E — THE HUAUIING-BIRDS — SELASPHOKUS. 355 



Genus SELASPHORUS, Swaixson. 

 Selasphortis, Swai.nson, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831. 



iwf^( 



ib'. rit/ilS. 



Gen. Char. Fcatlicrs of the tln-oat laterally imicli clon-ated, forming a niflf. Lateral 

 tail feathers mucli narrower than the middle, linear, or with the sides parallel to the 



rounded end. Tail graduated or cuneate. Outer primary attenuated at the tip. Crown 

 without red metallic scales. 



Selasphorus nifus, Gmelin. 



THE KED-BACKED HTJMMING-BIED. 



TrocMus rufns, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 497. - Audup.on, Orn. Ciog. IV. 18.38, .555; 

 pi 372" — NuTTAi.L, Man. I. 2il ed. 1840, 714. — Selasphorus ntfiis, Swainson, F. Bor. 

 Am" li. 1831, 324.' In. Birds Amor. IV. 1842, 200; pi. 2G4.— Baikd, P. R. Rep. 

 IX. BircU, 1.34. — Heermasn, X. vi. 57. — Oopeb and Sucklet, XII. iii. Zool. of 

 W. T. 1C4. 



Sp. CH.A.R. Tail strongly cunentc and wedge-shaped. Upper parts, lower tail oovcrts, 

 and breast, cinnamon. A trace of metallic green on the crown, which sometimes extends 

 over the back ; never on the bcUv. Tliroat coppery-red, with a wcll-.Ieveloped ruft of 

 the same ; below this a white collar. Tail feathers cinnamon, edge.l or streaked at the 

 end with purplish-brown. 



