GENEBA AND SPECIES. 167 



extent. But, on this and other points connected 

 with its economy, we have no positive informa- 

 tion. Its pendent nest is a most beautiful piece 

 of workmanship, and of singular solidity. This 

 species has been described by Mr. Eraser in the 

 Proceeds. Zool. Soc. January 1840, under the 

 title of Trochilus Derbianus, his specimen, be- 

 longing to the collection of the Earl of Derby, 

 having been brought from Santa Ee de Bogota. 

 His description is as follows : Male, total 

 length, 8 inches; beak, 3f; tail, 2i. Eemale, 

 total length, 7i inches ; beak, 2f ; tail, 2. 



Bill immensely long, and somewhat recurved, 

 equal in length to the head and body ; tail mo- 

 derate, slightly forked; head and upper parts 

 of body green, with golden and bronze reflexions ; 

 wings purplish-black ; tail blackish, tinted with 

 bronze, the central feathers being the richest ; 

 chin and throat dusky, each feather very ob- 

 scurely tinted with bronze in the middle, and 

 edged with ashy-white ; abdomen green ; the 

 feathers edged with white, or in parts greyish ; 

 those on the chest are whitish, with a large 

 green spot near the apex ; under wing-coverts 

 green. 



The female has a shorter beak, and there is 

 more white on the under parts of the body ; the 

 feathers on the throat and chin are somewhat 

 variegated with yellowish. It has been found at 

 Pichincha in Quito, at an elevation of from 

 11,000 to 12,000 feet above the sea. 



