158 GENEBA AND SPECIES. 



does not then emerge from its covert so as to 

 attract notice. It is not because the bird re- * 

 tires into its congenial forest gloom, that it ' 

 necessarily seeks repose ; indeed such could not : 

 be the case, while the young are calling inces- 

 santly on the parents for supplies of food. With 

 all birds the rearing time is one of constant 

 activity. 



Genus CJSLIGENA. In this genus the bill is 

 long and straight, the feet small, the wings long 

 and powerful, the tail ample, and slightly forked; 

 the upper tail-coverts are in the form of large 

 scales. The general plumage is of a purple tint, I 

 with changeable reflexions of violet and brilliant HJ 

 red. The typical example of this genus is a rare i^ 

 species from Mexico, described as Trochilus cce- | 

 ligena, the Purple Humming-bird, in the Na- I 

 turalist's Library, Ornith. vol. ii. p. 53, pi. iv. fl 

 It is the Ccdigena typica of the Prince of Canino, fa 

 Ornismya caligena of Lesson. In Grould's ' 

 cabinet. 



A second species of this genus, and as yet |i 

 undescribed, has been received by Mr. Grould \ 

 from Bolivia. 



From the development of the wings and tail 

 in the birds of this genus, their powers of wing j 

 must be extraordinary, and their style of flight j 

 not unlike that of the Swift, which bird they 

 considerably resemble in their general contour. 

 Although the gorget is not dazzlingly effulgent, 



