GENERA AND SPECIES. 205 



the TV. humilis of G-osse. This, if we may trust 

 to accuracy of admeasurements, is not the 

 Trochilus minimus of Swainson, or the Least 

 Bumming- Bird of Sloane (Hist. Jamaica), and 

 it may be observed that, from the use of the 

 word minimus, some degree of confusion has 

 arisen. As Mr. Grosse has been the first to 

 establish the identity of this species, distinguish- 

 ing it from the Least Humming -Bird of Sloane, 

 we think that the specific title of humilis should 

 be adopted. At all events let the term minimus 

 be abolished. 



This beautiful little species, the Vervain 

 Humming-bird, has already engaged our atten- 

 tion. Its description is as follows: Trochilus 

 humilis, Gosse. 



Male : irides, feet, and beak black ; whole 

 upper parts metallic-green ; wings purplish 

 black ; tail deep black ; chin and throat white, 

 speckled with black ; breast white ; sides 

 metallic-green ; abdomen whitish, each feather 

 being tipped with green ; under tail-coverts, 

 white, tipped faintly with green. 



Total length, 2^ inches ; beak, -&; tail, .. 



Female : rather less, of a yellower-green above, 

 which descends halfway down the tail; whole 

 under parts pure white, unspotted, untinged 

 with green ; tail-feathers, except the two central 

 tipped with white. 



Locality : Jamaica, Domingo. 



What then, it may be asked, is the Trochilus 





