OF ORNITHOLOGY 77 



In general : the bill is usually long, curved in a variety of 

 <lirections or straight, slender, pointed, and generally from 

 one-third to one-half the length of the whole bird ; nostril 

 «lits with a scale covering them and generally more or less 

 feathered, without rictal bristles ; wing like that of a minia- 

 ture Swift, of ten feathers (1st generally the longest), small> 

 •scythe-shaped, and very powerful for so small a bird ; tail va- 

 riable, of ten feathers ; feet small, weak, and, with the tarsus, 

 altogether peculiar. Our species are, for the most part, four 

 inches or under in length, which shows their comparative 

 ■smallness. Many species of the insect tribe surpass them in 

 •size. The student will find great pleasure in making special 

 -study of this delightful family, and it will afford him unex- 

 pected enjoyment. We have no sub-families to present. 



■Genera Eugenes, The Refulgent Humming-bird. 

 Trochilus, The Ruby-throat and ally. 

 Selasphorus, The Rufous Humming-birds (3 species). 

 Calypte, The Anna Humming-bird and ally. 

 Atthis, The Heloise Humming-bird. 

 Stelliila, The Calliope Humming-bird. 

 Calothorax, The Lucifer Humming-bird. 

 AmaziUa, The Dusky-tailed Humming-bird and ally. 

 Basilmna, The Xantus Humming-bird. 

 laclie, The Circe or Broad-tailed Humming-bird. 



\Calypte arnce was formerly Atthis Aiuia, and C. costce A. cosice^- 

 Selasphorus formerly went under the genus Trochilus, but wrongly as the 

 genera are quite distinct. 



The shifting of species from one genus to another is rare in this family. 

 The above are all stable genera and species, but no doubt others will be 

 discovered in Southwestern North America. 



FAMILY XXIII TROGONIDAE THE TROGONS 



Greek trogo, " to grind with the teeth," " especially nuts and fruit." 

 The family of the Trogons is a tropical one and very char- 

 acteristic. The best general impression of it may be taken 

 from comparison with any single representative specimen. As 

 its name implies its bill is well suited to ' grind nuts and fruit 

 W'ith the teeth, being very powerful and with a toothed edge. 



