AVES. 329 



Suh-fam. 2. Trochilina;, or true Humming Birds. Bill usually long, 

 straight, or slightly curved, and very slender ; wings long, pointed ; tail 

 various, generally truncate, sometimes rounded ; tarsi and feet very short 

 and weak ; toes long and slender. Size small ; plumage more or less 

 metallic and very beautiful. 



This sub-family contains about one hundred species of humming birds, 

 amono;st which are some of the most beautiful little birds in existence. 

 The mango {Trochilus mango), the swallow-tailed {T. inacrourus), the 

 emerald (7'. glaucopis), the long-tailed Jamaica humming bird (T. polijt?nus), 

 a magnificent species, the topaz {T. pella), the evening humming bird 

 [T. vesper), and many other splendid species belong here. 



They are exclusively restricted to South America and the West Indies, 

 except the Mango, which has been found in Mexico and may be classed 

 as a North American bird. 



The ruby topaz, T. moschitus [pi. 99, fig. 8), a splendid and common 

 species, the magnificent T. ornatus {pi. 99, fig. 9 a), De Lalande's hum- 

 ming bird, T delalandii {pi. 99, fig. 10), and some others, are common in 

 collections. The crested humming bird, T. cristatus {pi. 99, fig. 12), and 

 the smallest humming bird, T. minimus {pi. 99, fig. 11), are more rare. 

 The latter is the smallest of all known species. 



Suh-fam. 3. Mellisugince, or straight-hilled Humming Birds. Bill usually 

 lengthened, slender, and straight ; wings long, pointed ; tail various, mostly 

 truncate, sometimes with the two middle feathers or the two external 

 feathers long; tarsi and feet short and weak. Colors usually very brilliant. 



The species of this sub-family are diffused over the entire tropical and 

 temperate regions of America, though the much larger portion of them 

 exclusively inhabit the southern countries of this continent. 



The common humming bird, T. coluhris {pi. 99, fig. 9 *), belongs here, and 

 is the only species the history of which is well known. It appears in the 

 northern part of the United States from the beginning to the middle of 

 May, and was observed by Dr. Richardson in the fur countries of the 

 north, bordering upon the Arctic circle. The nest is built upon the project- 

 ing branch of a tree, and is very artfully constructed and covered with 

 moss or with lichens, giving it much the appearance of a knot upon the 

 branch where it is located. Within are laid copious quantities of the pappus 

 or down of plants, forming a soft and very suitable bed for the reception of 

 the diminutive eggs. These are generally two only, and are hatched in 

 the short space often days. 



One of the most remarkable qualities of this little bird is its groat 

 pugnacity : the male does not hesitate to attack other birds much larger 

 than himself, and has even been known to challenge the king-bird or the 

 martin, the latter of which he sometimes compels to retreat. To man this 

 bird shows little aversion, quietly hovering around its favorite flowers when 

 so nearly approached as almost to be caught in the hand. It frequently 

 enters at the windows of houses and is caught. Both old and young are 

 soon reconciled to confinement. In a very short time they will feed freely 

 \ipon diluted honey, or sugar and water, and suffer themselves to be 



533 



