GENERA AND SPECIES. 155 



wings as in the male ; under parts white, the 

 feathers having round tips of metallic green on 

 the sides of the neck, and being mingled with 

 green ones on the sides of the body ; the plu- 

 mage on each side of the nape erectile as in the 

 male, but somewhat shorter. In Gould's cabi- 

 net. 



Genus TOPAZA, Gray. 



This genus contains only two known species, 

 the most gorgeously refulgent of their race, all 

 minor beauties fading in their presence. 



The bill is long, strong and arched ; the wings 

 are long and ample ; the gorget is magnificent 

 beyond description, and set off by a surrounding 

 margin of velvet black ; the fourth tail feather 

 on each side is greatly elongated, and these like 

 streamers cross each other; the general plu- 

 mage is auriferous, but the thighs are snowy 

 white. 



The female is plain, and has no long tail 

 streamers. 



As an example of this genus we may refer to 

 the Topaz-throated Humming-bird (Trochilus 

 Pella), described in the Naturalist's Lib. Ornith. 

 vol. ii. p. 115, pi, 24. But this species, mag- 

 nificent as it is, " pales its ineffectual fire" before 

 its ally, the Trochilus Pyra. " Inter Trochilides 

 pulcherrimus" exclaims the Prince of Canino, 

 and we agree with him. 



Topaza Pyra. Plate III. 



