GEITEBA AND SPECIES. 203 



In this genus the bill is long, cylindrical and 

 Curved downwards ; the tail is much forked, 

 elongated, with the feathers broad and truncate ; 

 the tarsi are bare ; the feet moderately large. 



One species, (Trochilus sparganurus, Shaw, 

 Ornismya Sappho, Lesson), the Bar-tailed Hum- 

 ming-bird is described and figured in the Na- 

 turalist's Lib. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 112, pi. 23. 

 It is a native of Bolivia. 



The Sappho is indeed a lovely bird, but it is 

 outvied by the next species. 



Trochilus (Cometes) Phaon, Gould, 1847. 

 Male. Head, neck, wing-coverts, and under 

 surface brownish-green ; back, upper-tail coverts 

 and tail rich deep lustrous crimson ; bases of 

 the tail-feathers blackish-brown ; the tips deep 

 velvety-black ; wings deep purplish-brown ; gor- 

 get rich lustrous metallic-green. 



Female. Tail of the same colour as that of the 

 male ; she also possesses the lengthened and 

 curved bill. 



Total length, 7 inches ; bill, 1| ; tail, 4. 



Mr. Gould observes that this magnificent 

 species is a native of Peru, and differs from the 

 Sappho, which inhabits Bolivia, in having the 

 tail rich crimson instead of flame colour, and in 

 the greater length and curvature of the bill. 



Both species are denizens of elevated regions, 

 but we are not well acquainted with their 

 general economy. 



