440 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



sex ; the feathers very broad, and rounded at the ends ; primaries normal, 

 the outer broad to the end, and moderately bowed. 



Lampornis.^ Bill cylindrical, considerably curved. Wing very long, 

 reaching to, or beyond, the tip of the very broad tail. Size large (wing, 

 2.50, or more). The male dark-colored (green or black) beneath. Sexes 

 sometimes alike (in West Indies). 



B. Nasal operculum entirely uncovered ; base of bill very broad. Female 



with tail-feathers not tipped with white. 



Heliopaedica. Sexes alike in form. First primary longest, much 

 bowed toward end. Tail more than two thirds the wing, nearly square 

 (a little emarginated in the (J, slightly rounded in the 9)) th^ feathers 

 very broad, rounded at ends. Color, metallic green above, white or 

 rufous glossed with green below ; a conspicuous white post-ocular 

 stripe, and an auricular one of black beneath it. ^. Forehead and 

 chin black or metallic blue ; throat rich metalhc green. 9 • Forehead 

 dull brownish-green ; chin and throat white, glossed with green, or 

 plain ochraceous ; tail plain bluish-black or purplish-rufous, the middle 

 feathers more or less green. 



Thaumatias. Sexes alike in form and color. General form of Helio- 

 pcedica, but tail emarginated, instead of rounded. Color nearly uniform 

 green, with or without white throat and abdomen. Tail grayish-dusky, 

 with an obscure subterminal band of black (with basal three fourths 

 white in T. chionurus). 



Habits. The habits and manners of the whole family of Trochilidcc are, in 

 many striking respects, entirely peculiar to themselves, and without any known 

 correspondence or close resemblance to those of any other kinds of birds, 

 either in America or elsewhere. This family is found exclusively in Amer- 



1 Genus Lampornis, Swains. Char. Size large (wing, 2.50) ; tail large, more than half the 

 ■wing, the feathers very broad ; usually a little rounded, sometimes slightly emarginated (as in 

 L. mango, L. virginalis, and L. atirulenius). Bill cylindrical, considerably curved, its vertical 

 thickness least at about the middle. Nasal opercula nearly covered by the frontal feathers ; 

 tarsi naked. Wing very long, reaching to or beyond the tip of the tail ; first primary longest, 

 only slightly bowed, and not attenuated at tip ; inner primaries normal. 



The species of this genus belong chiefly to the West India Islands and to Tropical America, — 

 principally on the Atlantic coast. They are all of more than the average size, and distinguished 

 liy broad tail-feathers, and rather dull, though handsome colors. In L. porphi/rurus the sexes 

 are alike in color. The following species has been accredited to North America, but probably 

 upon erroneous data, since it belongs to northern South America, not even being an inhabitant 

 of any of the West India Islands, except Trinidad. Still it is possible that, as alleged for Thau- 

 matias linncei (see page 1064), it may have wandered far from its usual habitat, and have reached 

 Florida, as stated by Mr. Audubon. 



Lampornis mango, (L.) Swains. — The Mango Hummer. Trocliilus mango, L. S. N. I, 191. 

 — Gmel. S. N. I. 491. — AuD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 486 ; ph 184. — Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 

 186, pi. ccli. Lampornis mango, Sw. Zool. Jom-n. Ill, 358. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 130. 

 Sp. Char. — Male : Above deep golden green ; beneath opaque velvety-black medially, from 

 the bill to the anal region, separated fi-om the lateral and superior green by a tint of metallic 

 greenish-blue. Tail richly metallic rufous-purple, the feathers bordered terminally with blue- 

 black ; intermedise plain dark bronzy-green. Primaries plain dull dusky. Female. Similar, 

 but white beneath, except laterally, and with a medial stripe of black, from the bill to the anus. 

 Wing, 2.60-2.70 ; tail, 1.50-1.70 ; bill, .90. Hah. Northern South America (Brazil, Guiana, 

 Venezuela, New Granada, Panama, and Trinidad) ; accidental in Florida ? ? ? 



