456 



NATURAL 11 1 STORY OF BIRDS. 



The genera Campylopterus, Sphenoproctua and Etipetomana are composed of 

 speck's characterized by liaving the shafts of the primaries more or less developed, 

 and greatly flattened in the males. The inajority of the species have a portion of 

 their plumage adorned with metallic coloring. The genera are distinguished mainly 

 by the sh.ipe of the tail of the various species, this being rounded, cuneatc, or deeply 

 forkeil, in the order of the genera named. A very large and showy species is Cani- 

 pi/lopterus hemileucurus, with the upper and under surfaces metallic violet-blue, a black 

 tail glossed with green, the outer feathers largely tipi)ed with white. It is extremely 



FlO. 227. — A'uloxi n s uquilu^ sirkle-billeil Inimming-biril. 



pugnacious, two males rarely meeting without a combat. This generally commences 

 with a sharp shriek, then, with dilated throats and feathers all on end, they fight until 

 one falls to the ground or escapes by flight. The chief damage done in these combats 

 is the splitting of the tongue of one of the contestants, which then surely dies, being 

 no longer able to feed. 



One of the most extensive genera of the Trochilidte is PhcBthomis, embracing 

 about twenty-two species. The majority of these are jilaiiily attired without any 

 metallic coloring, and all are chiefly remarkablo for their peculiarly slia])ed tails, the 

 middle feathers of which extend beyond the rest, and are always longest in the 



