214 GENERA AND SPECIES. 



nature delights to bestow on the males of her 

 gorgeous forms. During flight they lie flat, so 

 as not to interfere with aerial progression ; but 

 during excitement they are raised and expanded, 

 so as to set off the bird to the greatest advan- 

 tage even, as under similar circumstances, the 

 peacock raises its upper tail-coverts, attracting 

 admiration. 



Genus DISCOSTTBA, Bonaparte, (Platurus, 

 in part, Lesson ; Mellisuga, in part, Gray). 



In this genus the tail is deeply bifurcated, the 

 shafts of the outer tail-feathers becoming 

 attenuated, and ending in a spatulate or racket- 

 like disc. So far, it agrees with the genus 

 Spathura, Gould, but it is at once to be distin- 

 guished by the tarsi being destitute of downy 

 muffs. 



Trochilus longicaudatus, Gmelin. (Trochilus 

 platurus, Latham). The Racket-tailed Hum- 

 ming-bird. This species is described in the 

 Naturalist's Lib. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 111. 



Locality: Guiana. In Gould's cabinet. 



Trochilus ligonicaudus, Gould in Proceeds. 

 Zool. Soc. 1846. Tace and forepart of the neck 

 green, which colour is continued on the chest, 

 where the feathers become larger, longer and 

 more luminous ; some of these are edged with 

 grey ; centre of the abdomen golden-brown ; 

 lower part of the abdomen and under tail-coverts 

 bufly -brown ; wings purplish black; back and 



