HUMMING-BIRDS. 443 



forked tnils. Cyanophnia ccprnhigiilaris differs somcwliat from others in tliis i;ronj) 

 of genera by iiaving a violut-bltie tliroat and cheek. About eigliteen species are 

 inchided in tlic four genera named. 



The next four genera are composed of species clothed in blue and metallic green. 

 They are ITylocharis, lache, Damoph'da and Jidiiuiu/ia, and are rei)resented in 

 Jlexico, Central America, and portions of Soutli America. Uijlocharis cijanea from 

 Brazil, with the head, throat, and breast shining dark blue with violet reflections, 

 builds a most beautiful nest, which is attached to a tendril of some vine, and is cu])- 

 shajied and composed of a white, cottony, substance, intermingled with seeds of 

 thistle-down, coated with dried leaves and bound together with cobwebs, all decorated 

 with woody fibres, inner coating of bark of trees, and other materials. These nests, 

 however, are not always alike, seemingly the fancy of each individual builder haviii"- 

 much to do witli the choice of materials for the construction and adornment of these 

 fairy dwellings. The eggs arc always two^ and pure white, as is the case witli all 

 species of humming-birds. Another allied si)ecies, IT. sappltii-ina has a remarkable 

 red-colored fleshy bill much dilated at the base. 



Three genera, Timolia, Eucephala., and Basilinnu, with twelve species, have 

 metallic green and blue ])lumage, the females very differently clothed from the males, 

 as is indeed the case with those of most of the species belonging to the genera thus far 

 enumerated. Perhaps the finest species of the three genera mentioned is Eucephala 

 grayi, with the whole head and chin shining deep blue, rest of body golden green. 

 It comes from Ecuador. Amazilia has twenty-five species, birds of various stvles of 

 plumage. Some have breast of metallic hues, others have this part plain rufous ; 

 some have red backs, while others again have the abdomen pure white. Tiiey are 

 natives of Mexico, Central America, Tres Marias Island, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, 

 one species, A. niveive/itn's, having been procured in Panama. Two species from 

 Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the islands of Tres Marias, A. cimuonomea and A. (jraijsoni 

 differ from all the rest by having the entire under surface bright cinnamon color. 



The genus J'oli/tmus, with three species, stands somewhat isolated among the Tro- 

 chilidai. Their tails are roimded. witii narrow, somewhat pointed, rectrices; entirely 

 metallic green in two specie^; in the otlur, with basal portion wiiite. They are scat- 

 tered throughout South America. The two species of Elvira have the greater portion 

 of the tail white, — a very miusual feature among the Trochilid;e. Arf/i/tria is one 

 of the most extensive genera, as regards the number of species, in the family. Tiiey 

 are birds of moderate size and of a ]ileasing plumage, the chief colors of whicii are 

 green and white. Uranomitra has some species with very brilliant metallic green and 

 blue hues upon the head and upper surface, and also certain ones possess bright red 

 bills. The genus Panlerpe contains one very beautiful sjiecics, P. itLiif/nis, from 

 Costa Rica and Chiriqui. With the crown and breast rich blue, the throat is metallic 

 scarlet, bordered with luminous yellowish green. It is one of the most brilliant birds 

 of this portion of the family. 



The genus Eriociteniis, with about eighteen species, is remarkable for the color- 

 ing of the lower part of the l)ack in the different species, and the downy puffs which 

 cover and com])letely conceal the tarsi, sometimes the entire feet. The metallic colors 

 are golden-green, blue, bronze, and othei-s of similar brilliancy, while the general hues 

 of the species are dark gray, green, co)>])ery-red, and ]niriilish-black. The downy 

 puffs on the legs are black, white, pale buff, or brown and white. The species are of 

 moderate size, rattier robust form, with straight, strong bills, and long \\ ings. A very 



