LONG-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. 97 



down, which was slowly borne along upon a gentle 

 breeze, picking at it and drawing filaments from 

 it, doubtless with a view to nest-building. 



LONG-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD.*^ 



Trochilus polytmtis. 



TrocMlus polytmus, Linn. 



Ornismya cephalatra. Less. — Ois. M. xvii. 



This is the gem of Jamaican Ornithology. Its 

 slender form, velvet crest, emerald bosom, and 

 lengthened tail-plumes, render it one of the most 

 elegant even of this most brilliant family. Though 

 peculiar, as far as I am aware, to Jamaica, it has long 

 been known, though it would seem from received 



* Male. Length 10^ inches, expanse 6f, tail, longest feather 7^, 

 outmost feather If, flexure 2^," rictus 1, tarsus ^, middle toe ^. 



Irides black ; beak coral-red, the tip black ; feet purplish-brown, soles 

 paler. Crown, hind head, and nape deep velvety black, very slightly 

 glossed ; back, rump, wing and tail-coverts, rich golden-green ; wings 

 purplish-black, the outer edge of the first primary whitish ; second 

 primary longest ; tail deep black, with bluish gloss, the uropygials, and 

 the outer edges of the others glossed with golden-green, varying in in" 

 tensity. The tail is slightly forked, the feathers regularly graduating 

 from the uropygials outwards, save that the outmost but one is exceed- 

 ingly lengthened. Throat, breast, and belly gorgeous emerald-green, ex- 

 tending to the thighs ; vent and under tail-coverts, purpled black. The 

 plumage of the hind head long and loose, descending in two lateral tufts 

 upon the nape, which are to some extent erectile. 



Female, 4i inches, tail Ij^, flexure 2^. Irides dark bro-\vn ; beak 

 dull reddish-brown, black at edges and tip ; feet nearly black. Front 

 and crown dusky brown, scaled, gradually becoming green on the hind 

 head, whence the whole upper plumage is rich golden-green. Tail blue 



F 



