NIGHTJARS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMING-BIRDS 99 



THE HUMMING-BIRDS 



That the Humming-birds and Swifts are very closely related no 

 one now doubts, unlike though they be in external appearance. 



Confined to the American Continent, and ranging from the ex- 

 treme south thereof as far north as Canada, these birds are by no 

 means to be regarded as the jewelled darlings of the Tropics, though 

 it is indeed in tropical America that they are to be met with in the 

 greatest plenty. Numbering no less than four hundred different 

 species, they present a relatively great range in size, the largest 

 measuring some 9J inches in length, while the smallest is but little 

 bigger than a bumble-bee. In the matter of the shape of the beak 

 and tail they present hardly less variety. Thus the beak may be 

 short and straight, curved upwards or downwards, or drawn out into 

 a great probe, considerably longer than the whole body. Similarly, 

 the tail may be short and rounded or long and Swallow-like, and in 

 some species these long tail-feathers cross one another in graceful 

 curves, while in others these crossed feathers are drawn out into 

 mere threads, terminating in oval expansions. 



But it is on account of the exquisite beauty of their plumage, 

 resplendent in the most gorgeous metallic hues, that the humming- 

 birds have become so famous. No other birds can vie with these 

 fairy-like creatures in this respect. 



As we have already remarked, no less than 400 different kinds 

 of humming-birds are known, and of these five have been taken 

 at random for illustration here. With such a dazzling wealth of 

 numbers, choice becomes impossible. One of the most elegant, 

 though by no means the most gorgeous of all, is the Sun-gem Hum- 

 MiNG-BiRD (Plate XXII. fig. i), a native of Brazil. 



The Coquette Humming-bird (Plate XXII. fig. 2) is a native of 

 Central America. Ten different species of Coquette Humming-birds 

 are known, ranging from Mexico southwards. They are easily dis- 

 tinguished by their crested heads and the '* ruff," which projects 

 from the throat. 



Perhaps the most gorgeous birds in existence in so far as the 

 colouring of the tail is concerned, are the Comet Humming-birds 



