166 GENERA AND SPECIES. 



tains, as far as known at present, only one 

 species. The beak is enormously long, with a 

 slight upward curve, and is well adapted for 

 probing deep flowers, such as those of the Brug- 

 mansia. The wings are large ; the tail forked ; the 

 plumage dull. The females have the throat spotted. 



The nest, consisting of a dense texture like 

 fine brown felt, hangs pendent from a twig. 

 It is of large dimensions. 



The species representing this genus is the 

 Trochilus ensiferus, Boiss. in Rev. Zool. 1839, 

 p. 354. The general plumage is dark bronzed- 

 green; the wings and tail are soot-black; bill 

 and feet black. This species is represented in 

 the frontispiece. [FEONTISPIECE.] 



The whole contour of this bird, which ranks 

 among the larger and more powerful of its race., 

 sufficiently attests its extraordinary powers of 

 flight. While probing the long tubular blos- 

 soms it suspends itself in the most varied and 

 graceful attitudes ; and although less brilliant in 

 colouring than most other species of Trochilidse, 

 it is, nevertheless, one, which, if well displayed 

 even in a cabinet and surrounded by the most 

 dazzling of its race, at once arrests the eye, and 

 excites no common interest. 



It is a native of Santa Fe de Bogota and the 

 elevated district extending southwards to Peru* 

 It may be considered therefore as a mountain 

 bird, adapted for a temperate, or even a cold 

 district, and is probably migratory to a partial 



