98 Synopsis of the Birds 



divided into two filaments from the middle to the tip. Feet 

 very short ; tarsus slender, shorter than the middle toe, gene- 

 rally more or less- feathered ; fore toes almost entirely divided ; 

 hind toe somewhat larger than the middle one : nails short, 

 much incurved and retractile, compressed, acute ; hind one 

 often shorter than the others. Wings very long, acute ; first 

 primary falcate, longest, the others regularly decreasing. 

 Tail almost always composed of ten feathers. 



Difff.r considerably in appearance according to age, sex, 

 and season. Colours exceedingly brilliant, like those of 

 metals and precious stones. 



Solitary. Flight extremely rapid; whilst feeding remaiu 

 stationary in the air, by means of the horizontal motion of 

 their wings. Produce a humming sound in flight. Walk 

 with difficulty ; alight and sleep only on large limbs. Nest 

 attached to a branch or a leaf, hemispherical or conic, lined 

 with down, and covered externally with lichen ; eggs two, 

 whitish. 



Peculiar to America; almost exclusively tropical. 



SUBGENUS MELLISUGA. 



Mellisuga, Briss. Orthorhyncus, Lacepede. 



Bill straight. 



155. Trochilus colubris, L. Golden-green ; tail forked, 

 black ; three outer tail feathers ferruginous-white at tip. 



]\lale, throat ruby. Female and young, throat whitish. 



Humming-bird, Trochilus calnbris, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 26. 

 pi. 10 Jig. 3. male. Jig. 4. female. 



Inhabits the United States in summer ; winters in Mexico, 

 the West Indies and South America : common. 



FAMILY XIII. ^EGITHALI. 



Passerini, Canori, III. Dentirostres, Conirostres, Cuv.Latr. 

 JEgithali, Antriades, Vieill. Egitali, Ranz. 

 Orders Granivores, Insectivores, Temm. 



