GENERA AND SPECIES. 159 



it is in many species of Humming-birds, the 

 colouring of the plumage is very attractive. In 

 size they rank amongst the largest of this group 

 the Purple Humming-bird measuring more 

 than five inches in length, including the long 

 beak. As to any peculiarities of habits, or 

 mode of nidification, no positive information has 

 hitherto reached us a circumstance in the case 

 of rare species not to be wondered at. It is to 

 be hoped that, for the future, collectors of 

 specimens will, if only to enhance the value of 

 their " winged gems," transmit with them some 

 degree of information, which a little trouble 

 might, in most instances, enable them to ac- 

 quire. A collector should have a note-book in 

 tiis pocket, as well as a gun in his hand. 



Genus LEUCIPPUS, Bonap. The characters 

 of this genus do not appear to be very de- 

 inite. Two species are recognized ; one Trochi- 

 lus (Leucippus)fallax, which Mr. Gould regarded 

 as belonging to the genus Lampornis. It is a 

 native of Venezuela, and is described by Bour- 

 cier, in Eev. Zool. 1843. 



The other is the Trochilus Turneri of Bourcier, 

 Trochilus hypoleucus of Gould, in Proc. Zool. 

 Soc. 1846. It is not remarkable for brilliancy. 

 The description is briefly as follows : All the 

 apper surface is green ; the throat and all the 

 inder surface white ; wings brown ; two central 

 sail-feathers green, the remainder brown, glossed 



