8 Genera of Humnmig Birds. 



FAMILY I. TROCHILIDiE, 



Or Family of Humming Birds. 



Bonaparte, 183 1. 



Body small, sometimes very minute. Bill slender, straight 

 or curved, shorter or longer than the head with feathers at 

 base. Throat in males with only one exception, M. Minima, 

 always covered with brilliant metallic feathers, crimson, lilac, 

 red, etc. Females plainly coloured, with a patch of metallic 

 feathers on throat, when fully adult. Underside, white, grey 

 or puff. Tail very changeable in form and in length, according 

 to species. 



I commence my classification with the Genus Trochilus, as 

 the most proper, being the first name proposed by Linnd for 

 these beautiful birds, and from which the names of the Order 

 and first Family derive. 



Then I continue with the various Genera closely and 

 naturally allied one to another. Excepting for the few species, 

 which I don't possess, the descriptions are taken from the birds 

 in my collection. 



Genus i. — Trochilus, Linne, Syst. Nat. 1766, Vol. I., 



p. 1S9. 



Cynanthris, Boie, Isis, 1831. 



Cobibris, Reich, Syst. Av. Nat., 1849, pi. 40. 



Archilochus, Reich, Troch, Enuni, 1855, p. 10. 



Ornysfnia, Muls and Verr, Class. Troch, 1865, p. 91. 



Type. — T. colubris, Linn^. 



Bill straight, about same length as the head ; wings short, 

 tail forked, rectrices pointed. Nostrils hidden by frontal 

 feathers, throat adorned with bright metallic feathers. Sexes 

 unlike in plumage. 



I. Trochilus colubris, Linn6, Syst. Nat. 1766, Tom. i, 



p. 191. 



Red Throated Humming Bird^ Edwards, Hist., t. i, p. 36. 



Le Petit Ruins de la Caroline, Briss, Ornith, t. 3, p. 38. 



Habitat, North America to Veragua, Cuba, Bahamas, and 

 Bermudas. 



Male. — Upperside and flanks bronzy-green, chin black, 

 throat metallic ruby red, Breast and underside white, tinged 

 with green. Medium rectrices golden greea, lateral purplish 

 brown, bill black. 



