PREFACE. 



In the following Synopsis, I have given every species of Humming-bird known 

 to me, that in my opinion is entitled to a separate rank, and even of these, it is 

 not impossible that future information will con)pel us to place some of them 

 among the synonymes of others. Although the Family contains a certain number 

 of groups, composed of species having more or less relationship with each other, I 

 have not seen my way clear to the recognition of any subfamihes, as lias been done 

 by other writers. — The Phoithornithinw, which constitute Mr. Gould's first sub- 

 family, cannot be considered (as restricted by that Ornithologist) as having all the 

 genera particularly related, either in the form, color of ])lumage, or habits of their 

 different members ; witness, Eutoxeres, Gkypus, and Ph/Ethornis ; nor are any of 

 these so essentially different from all the rest of the Family as to necessitate their 

 separation into a subfamily. Mr. Gould does not give any characters to distinguish 

 the Phcethornithince from the TrocJiiliufv, and I am unable to find any. The fact 

 is, that the Trochilidaj is composed of so many groups, Avhose species have but 

 little in common, that if it is deemed desirable to institute Subfamily divisions, 

 many would be requisite, and I do not see any advantage that could possibly 

 accrue from such a procedure. I have, therefore, not recognized any subfamilies, 

 but have considered all the species as members of one great united Family. 

 Generic division has been carried probably to a greater extreme among these 

 birds than in any other group known in Ornithology, and there remain but com- 

 paratively few species that have not been made to stand at one time or another, 

 as the representative of some so-considered distinct generic form. In the present 

 Synopsis, the recognition of genera has been carried to the farthest limit that 

 seemed practicable, and in every case it has been attempted to give structural 

 characters for the erenera which have been acknowledged. Of course, to those 

 Ornithologists who consider that color of plumage is sufficient to establish genera, 

 my treatment will not be acceptable, but in this Family at least, when it is not 

 infrequently observed, that individuals of the same species vary from each other in 

 the hues of their plumage to a great degree, color unsupported cannot be regarded 



(iii) 



