GENEEA AND SPECIES. 149 



name of Mango to this species (says Mr. Gosse) 

 I have no knowledge : that it could have no 

 connexion with the mango-tree is evident, since 

 that tree was not introduced into the western 

 world till long after his time. It is perhaps a 

 native name. This species is not confined to 

 Jamaica, but seems more widely spread than 

 most of these tiny birds." Lesson says, " The 

 Mango inhabits Jamaica, and, as it appears, not 

 only the greater Antilles but also Terra Firma, 

 and, as it is said, Brazil and Guiana." Hence it 

 has long been familiar to naturalists. " It is the 

 largest or blackest Humming-bird of Sloane. 

 Lesson in his Les Colibris, has given no less 

 than four figures of this species in different 

 ages, pi. xiii. to xv. ; but I cannot say much in 

 their praise." 



" The Polytmus Meocicanus, and Polytmus 

 Jamaicensis of Brisson refer without doubt to 

 the present bird. It is Le plastron noir of Buffon. 

 Whether Trochilus gramineus of St. Domingo, 

 which has been supposed to represent this spe- 

 cies in that sister-island is really anything more 

 than a mere variety I have no means of deter- 

 mining. My valued friend, Mr. Hill, in writing 

 to me observes : Buffon makes his Plastron noir 

 of Jamaica common to Brazil and St. Domingo. 

 The compensatory bir d in St. Domingo is much 

 more green than Jamaica specimens, that is, 

 with less disposition to assume the violet and 

 purple in the changes of light, and with decid- 



