SYNOPSIS OF THE HUMMI NG-BI RDS. 



keel. Tail, always of ten feathers, various in shape and size, in some cases exceed- 

 in"' the body in length, in others so short as to be hardly perceptible ; the rectrices 

 varyin'j- from broad and even, to the shape of spines ; tips sometimes spatulate. Tarsi 

 short, either naked, moderately clothed, or completely hidden in tufts of downy 

 feathers. Feet small, toes usually short, the claws curved, sharp, and rather large. 

 Feet used for perching, not for progression, the wings being the instruments em- 

 ployed for almost every change of position. Plumage from plain, even sombre tints, 

 to the most gorgeously brilliant metallic hues known among created things ; the 

 iridescent feathers, however, being, in the majority of instances, observable only 

 in the males.^ 



I commence my arrangement of the Family vt^ith the genus Eutoxeres, which is 

 an aberrant form, not especially allied to any of the known genera, the curious 

 bills of the difierent species giving them a position apart from the rest of the 

 Trochilidfe. They are large birds, with but little metallic coloring upon any part 

 of their plumage. 



Genus I.— EUTOXERES. 



Eutoxeres, Rkich., Syst. Av. Nat, t. xl (1849). 

 Myicetina, Bon., Rev. Mag. Zool. {18.'J4), p. 249. 



Ch. Bill greatly curved, 

 forming nearly one-third of a 

 circle ; wide at base, narrow- 

 ing suddenly and becoming 

 compressed laterally ; man- 

 dible entirely hidden in 

 maxilla, except at the point. 

 Cutting edges of bill, not ser- 

 rated. Tail cuneate, feathers 

 pointed. Feet large, tarsi 

 bare. Sexes alike in plum- 



Type. 

 T. aquila, Bourc. 

 T. aquila, Bourc. 



Fig. 1. 



EtiinxtTPJi aquila. Bogota- Goiiia. 



Range. Costa Rica, Veragua, Columbia, Ecuador. 

 Three species are here recognized. 



Key to the species. 



A. Striae on feathers of the throat and breast buffy-white, on abdomen pure white. 1. E. aquila. 



B. Strise on lower parts light buff, 2. E. hetcrura. 



C. Tail, with lateral rectrices deep buff. 3. E. condamini. 



These birds are remarkable for their greatly curved bills. The plumage is gene- 

 rally sombre, and nearly devoid of metallic hues. 



See Appendix, p. 249, for Key to the Genera. 



