1109 



TROCHIDON. 



TROCHILID^E 



1110 



arrangement. The Trochidce are immediately preceded by the 

 Turbinidce and followed by the Stomatellidte. 



Dr. Gray's Trochidce consist of the genera Pyramis, Cardinally, 

 Trochus, Polydonta, Clangulus, Phorcus (Pkorusl), Ziziphinus, Canthi- 

 ridui (Cant/iaridut ?), T/talolia, Monodonta, Qibbium, Gtbbula, Rotella, 

 Lii-ona, Talopia, Camilla, and Ddphimda. (' Synopsis Brit. Mus.,' 

 1840.) 



In Woodward's 'Manual,' Solarium is referred to Chitonidce, and 

 Trochta to Turlinidte. 



TROCHIDON. 



TROCHI'LID/E, the scientific name for the family of Humming- 

 Birds. 



Linnajus, in hia last edition of the ' Systema Naturae,' placed the 

 genus Trochilut.at the end of hia order Pica:, and next to the genua 



OMSK* 



Cuvier includea the Colibrit (Trochilus, Linn.) in his order Passe- 

 reaux, placing the group between the Grimpereaux, or Creepers 

 (Cert/tia, Linn.), which in Cuvier's arrangement comprises the Sun- 

 Birds and the Hoopoes (Upupa, Linn.). ICINNYRID.E.] 



II. Lesson, in his ' Manuel,' places the Trochilidce next to the Philc- 

 donulce, and at the end of the Tenuirotlret, making the family con- 

 sist of two genera only, namely, Colibri (Polytmui, Briss. ; Trochilns, 

 Linn, and Auct.), and Ornitmya, Less. (Mellisuga, Briss. ; Trochilus, 

 Linn., Temm., Vieill. ; and Orthorliynchus, Lacdp.). The same zoolo- 

 gist, in his elegantly illustrated work ' Lea Trochilidees, ou les Colibris 

 et lea Oiseaux Mouches,' gives the following definition of this brilliant 

 group : 



Trochilut (auctorum). 



Synonyms : Mellituga and Polytmus, Briss. ; TrochHiu, Liun., Gm., 

 Lath., Vieill., Temm. ; Trochilua and Orthorhynchus, Lace'p. ; Trochilut, 

 Cynanthut, Phathornis, Campylopterut, and Lampornit, Sw. ('Zool. 

 Joura.') ; Trochilut, Ramphodon, and Omitmya, Less. ; BMatrix, 

 Calliphlojc, Polylmtu, Glaucis, Anthracothorax, lldiactin, Hylocliarii, 

 Baiilinna, Chrytolampii, Smaragdites, and Eulampii, Boie ('Isis,' 



Zoological Characters. Bill longer than the head, straight or arched, 

 the upper mandible a little widened at the base, rounded above and 

 beyond the nostrils, tapering into a point ; lower mandible straight or 

 slightly bent above and below, entering within the upper mandible, 

 dilating a little towards the point, and of the same length as the pre- 

 ceding. Nostrils basal, very small, covered by the advanced feathers 

 of the forehead, placed in a lateral fosset, separated from each other 

 by a slight ridge. Wings with the quill-feathers graduated ; the first 

 the longest, aud so ou in succesaion. Tail composed of ten feathers, 

 very variable in length and form. Tarsi delicate, slender, naked or 

 feathered to the heels, scutcllated, having in front three equal toes, 

 the two internal ones a little connected at their baae, the hind toe 

 rather stout, all furnished with compressed, curved, and hooked claws, 

 which are rather robust for the toes. Tongue extensible, Ion?, divided 

 at the summit into two widened filaments, which are slightly spatu- 

 late, and supported by two very long branches of the os hyoides 

 acting like a spring, tubular in the centre, or formed of two co- 

 adapted (adossds) cartilaginous canals. 



Geographical Distribution. America (including many of the adjoin- 

 ing islands), principally between the tropics ; but, at the same time, 

 there are species which range very far to the south, and others to the 

 north. 



Food. Soft insects, such as spiders, tipultc, gnats, ants, and also 

 small coleopterous insects ; accessorily the honied juice of flowers. 



Plumage. That of the male brilliant, sumptuous, and with metallic 

 reflections. The livery of the females is nearly always sombre, tar- 

 nished, or with but little brilliancy. The young resemble the females, 

 and only gradually gain the dress of the males. Tho feathers have 

 their barbules constantly disposed in facets, even in those whose 

 plumage is dull. 



In the ' Synopsis ' of his ' Classification of Birds ' Mr. Swamaon 

 gives the following arrangement and definitions, observing that the 

 typical characters alone are given of what he considers to be the 

 primary groups; but as the circular succession of the sub-genera in 

 each is a subject which requires more investigation than he had been 

 able to give it, he will not attempt to impose names upon the minor 

 groups, which could not as yet be properly demonstrated. 



Family Trochilida. Humming-Birds. 

 Wings excessively long, falcated. Feet very small. 

 Genera : Lampornis, Sw. ; Ex. L. mango. Tree/aim, Auct. ; Ex. 

 T. lonyirciitrin. Cynanthiu, Sw. ; Ex. C. forficatut. Phcetltomis, Sw. ; 

 Ex. P. tupercUioxu. Oampyloptenu, Sw. ; Ex. C. recurviroatrit. 



He places the TrocMlido; between the Cinnyrida and the Promt- 



Prince C. L. Bonaparte, in his 'Specchio Comparative' (1827), 

 places the family Anthomyzi, with the genua Trocltilui, between the 

 families Tenuirottru and Jitfilhali. In his 'Birds of Europe and 

 North America' (1838) the TrochUitlui are arranged between the 

 /"/./"'<'" aQ d the Cert/iidte, and comprise the genera Trocltilui, Lam- 

 and Callipklo.T. 



Mr. G. R. Gray, in hia ' Lit of the Genera of Birds,' gives the 



TrochUidas a place between the Ncctarinidai and the Mdiphagidte, 

 making the first-named family consist of the following sub-families and 

 geuera : 



Sub-Family 1. Lampornina. 



Genera: Campylopterus, Sw. ; Eulampii, Boie; Petasophora, G. R. 



Gray ; Lampornis, Sw. ; Glaucii, Boie ; (?) (Chrysures, Less.) ; 



Topaza, G. R. Gray ; Calothorax, G. R. Gray (Lucifers, Less.). 

 Sub-Family 2. Pluxthorn'mas. 



Genera : Grypus, Spix ; Phcetliornit, Sw. 



Sub-Family 3. Trochilina. 



Genera: Patagona, G. R. Gray (Patagones, Less.); Cceligena, Less.; 

 (?) (Glaucopes, Less.) ; Leslia, Less. ; Heliactin, Boie ; Trochilus, 



Linn.; Hdiolhryx, Boie; (?) (Platnnu, Less.) ; (?) (Avo- 



cettes, Less.); Polytmut, Briss.; Amiz'dis, Less.; Sephanoides, Less.; 

 Orthorhynchus, Cuv. ; Mellifitya, Briss. ; Chrysolampit, Boie; Hylocharis, 

 Boie ; Lophomis, Less. (Bdlalrix, Boie ; Coquets, Less.). 



The most recent work on this subject is by Mr. Gould, who is 

 now (1855) bringing out a work on the TrochiKdw, in which every 

 species will be figured. Mr. Gould has long been preparing for this 

 great work, and has one of the finest collections of Hummiug-Birds 

 ever made. The collection of the late Mr. George Loddiges, which 

 in 1842 was the most extensive in Europe, contained 196 species. In 

 Mr. Gould's collectiou there are above 300 species. This collection 

 was publicly exhibited iu the Gardens of the Zoological Society in 

 Regent's Park, in 1851 and 1852. The monograph of the TrochUida 

 which is to illustrate this great collectiou has already reached ten 

 parts, and will be completed in sixteen. 



The following is a list of the geuera, as given by Mr. Gould : 



Gryphia, Spix. Ex. Trochilut rueviia, Dumont. It is the only 

 species of this genus, and inhabits the mountainous districts of 

 Brazil. 



Glaucii, Boie. Ex. T. aqulla, Bourcier. It inhabits New Granada. 



Phatornii.Es.. T. hispidut, Gould. It is an inhabitant of Peru. 

 There are several species. 



Lafretnaya, Bonaparte. Ex. T. Lafresnayi, Bois. There is another 

 species, both inhabitants of Quito. 



Doryfera, Gould. Ex. T. Ludovica. Several species arc natives of 

 Peru. 



Pdatophora, G. R. Gray. This is a genus remarkable for its beauty. 

 The oldest known species constitutes the type, the P. Serriroalris. 

 There are eight species, natives of Brazil. 



lleliothrix, Boie. -The species of this geuug are emiuently adapted 

 for flight. The type of the genus is T. auritus. 



No other species are in Mr. Gould's collection. They are natives of 

 Brazil and Guyana. 



Delattria, Bonaparte. This genus contains four species. Ex. T. 

 fulgens of Swainson, a native of Mexico. 



Hdiodoxa, Gould. Ex. H. lacula, Gould. It inhabits Santa F(S 

 de Bogota. 



Hdutmaiter.E.x.. T. longirostris, Vicillot. The species are natives 

 of the Antilles and of Brazil. 



Mr. Gould separated from the foregoing genus a species to which he 

 gives the generic title of Plcrophoi-us. It is a native of the mountain 

 range of Columbia, aud ranks amongst the most gorgeous of the 

 Trochilidce. 



Campylojtterui, Swaiuson. Ex. C. lalipennis, the Blue-Throated 

 Sabre- Wing. Nine species arc knowu, natives of the borders of the 

 Amazon. 



Lampomis. Ex T. Mango. It inhabits Jamaica. There are several 

 species. 



Eulampii, Boid Ex. T. holotericcus. This species, according to 

 Lesson, is confined to the Antilles. 



Polytmuo, Bonaparte. This genus contaius but one species, T. 

 polytmue of Jamaica. 



Topaza, Gray. Ex. T. Pella, the Topaz-Throated Humming-Bird ; a 

 native of Rio Negro, Brazil. 



Caligena.'Ex, T. cceligena, the Purple Humming-Bird. A second 

 species of this genus has been received by Mr. Gould from Bolivia. 



Leucippus, Bonaparte. No species are recognised by Mr. Gould 

 natives of Venezuela. 



Bonrcicria, Bonaparte. There are four species, of which T. Wilsonii 

 is an example. 



AgUeactis, Gould. Ex. T. cupreipennis ; a native of Columbia. 



fioriatga, Bonaparte. The type of this genus is T. mcllivorus of 

 Linnsous ; a native of Cayenne, Surinam, and the Antilles. Two other 

 species are known. 



Jlylocharis, Bold. Of this genus, the Sapphire-Throated Humming- 

 Bird, T. mpp/urinus, and the Golden-Green Humming-Bird, Ornismya 

 prasima, are examples. It is a native of Guyana, Cayenne, Brazil, aud 

 Berbice. 



Docimaater, Gould. This genus contains but one species, T. ensiferus. 



Udianthea, Gould. The types of thia genus are T. hdiant/ica aud 

 T. Bonapartii, natives of New Granada aud Venezuela. 



Patagona, Gray, contains only ous species, T. gigas; a uative of 

 Chili. 



MetaUwa, Gould. Five species belong to thia genus. They are 

 natives of Bolivia. 



