nil 



TROCHILID.E. 



TROCIULID^E. 



nit 



AroctttiHiu, llonaparte, contains two species. Ex. T. AvoceHa. 



C'AryturoMiu, Bonaparte. Four species are arranged under this 

 genus. They are natives of Brazil and Peru. Ex. T. .Eiumt. 



lltlianijtlm, Gould. This is a gorgeous group. All the species are 

 natives of the Andes. Six species are recorded. 



Onotrockilui. Six species are recorded from South America. Ex. 



Thalurania. Gould. The type of this genus U the Fork-Tailed 

 Humming Bin), Omimya furcala of Lesson. 



Nmrrroffin, Bonaparte. Ex. T. Saucerolti. The species are native* 

 of New Granada. 



Ama:ilitu, Bonaparte. Ex. Ornimya Amatilit of Lesson. It is a 

 native of Peru. 



Thaomatiiu, Bonaparte. Ex. Trockiltu TkatOMtiut. Natives of 

 Brazil 



Ramphomicron, Bonaparte. Eight or nine species of this group are 

 described. The type of the genus is T. microrhynchui, a native of 

 Santa F<5 de Bogota. 



Oj-ypogoH, Gould The types of this genus, which contain but very 

 few species, are the Omiimya Ouei-ini and 0. Lindeni. 



Loddigaia, Gould. One species of this genus is recorded, T. inira- 

 lilit ; a native of IVru. 



^ftaihura, Gould. Ex. Ornitmya Undervoodii, the Rough-Legged 

 Racket-Tailed Humming-Bird. Natives of Peru. 



iVro/.iw, Gould. The species are natives of tho Cordilleras, Peru, 

 and Columbia. There are fourteen or sixteen species recorded. 



CynanUttu. Ex. T. Nuna, the Nuna Humming-Bird ; a native of 

 Peru. 



Cvwetct, Gould. 1 his genus contains only two species, of supreme 

 magnificence. Ex. T. iparganurui, the Sappho. 



Trochilui, Linnoms and Bonaparte. Mr. GouM gives to this genus 

 the title of Uolibri The typical example U the Ruby-Throat, or 

 Northern Uumming-Bird, T. Colnbrit. 



Omiimya, Bonaparte. There are several species natives of Jamaica. 



fvlatpkonu, Swainson. Ex. T. ruber. the Nootka Sound Humming- 

 Bird. 



N i kanolda, Lesson. Ex. T. Galeriia. Valparaiso. 



Chrytolamiiii, Boie. This genus is represented by the Huby-Crested 

 Uumming-Bird, T. motchilui. It U a native of the Antilles, and 

 probably also of Guyana. 



Onhorhyncliui, Cuvier. Ex. 7*. chhrolopltui, a native of Martinique, 



Cci.kalipit, Loddiges. Ex. T. Loddigaii, Gould. It is a native of 

 Rio Grande. 



Lophornii, Lesson. There are several species. Ex. T. auratta ; a 

 native of Guyana, Cayenne, and Brazil. 



/KicotKra, Bonaparte. Ex. T. Ivnyicamlaliu; a native of Guyana. 



Tryjjlurna, Gould. The type of this genus is Tryphana Duponti, a 

 native of Mexico. There are four species described. 



Augatta,Qou\d. Ex. 7.iHper&iu(VieilL) ; a native of Brazil. There 

 an two species described. 



Calothorax, Gray. The type of the genus U Ti-ochilui luci/ci; 

 Swainson. 



/frlioftin, Boi<S. One species is only recorded, T. cornutui ; a native 

 of Brazil. 



nananutura, Bonaparte. The type" of this genus is Trochilu Cora, 

 Lesson ; a native of Peru. 



U'lMia, Bonaparte. The example of this genus is T. Langidorji 

 of Vieillot, a native of Brazil There are two or three species 

 described. 



The birds belonging to this family are no less remarkable for their 

 structure than for the wonderful splendour of their plumage. The 

 very diq> kt-< I of the sternum, the power of the bones of the wing, 

 lengthem-d scapula, and the comparatively impoverished structure of 

 the lower extremities, all exhibit an organisation of the locomotive 

 system especially adapted to the development of the highest powers 

 of (light. 



tity consistently with the requisite stability. All proclaims that the 

 being before us it destined to pass the most active part of a highly 

 active life in the air ; and when we proceed to inquire into the habits 

 of this ethereal race, we shall at once perceive hew admirably adapted 

 to those habits this organisation is. 



Another part of the mechanism of these minute creatures, inti- 

 mately connected as it is with their existence, demands some notice. 

 The tongue is the principal organ for obtaining the food, which con- 

 sists of the honied juices of flowers and insects. This tongue is so 

 framed that, like the same organ in the Woodpeckers, it can be darted 

 out of the bill by a sudden action of the 09 liyoides, comparable to 

 that of a spring suddenly released from the detent It is very long, 

 and can be protruded a good way from the bill 



In order that this tubular tongue may be thus projected upon the 

 aliments which its terminations are appointed to seize and retain, tlio 

 os hyoides which supports it is formed of two bony plates which 

 separate, pass below the cranium, re-ascend over the bones of the 

 occiput, and proceed to form a point of resistance, or fulcrum, by 

 their re-union on the forehead. The result of this disposition, when 

 brought into play by the muscles of the tongue, is a great power 

 over the muscular tubes, furnished with circular fibres, which compose 

 the organ of taste. The two small blades, or elongated spoon-like 

 terminations, seize the insects, or lick up the honied exudations, which 

 are on the instant carried to the aperture of the oesophagus by tho 

 elasticity and contractility of the two tubes, and forthwith swallowed. 

 The long and slender bill cornea admirably in aid to insert the tongue 

 into the ncctaria of flowers. 



Hktltkm of Iluniniinr.liiril. (Prom a -ptcinwn in the atiucum of th Roval 

 CoUsf* of Swftou in Load' n.) 



To put this framework iu motion a corresponding development of 

 the muscular nytem is applied. The enormous for enormous, by 

 coinpari.*on, they are pectoral muscle*, and the other muscles employed 

 for working the wings, form nearly the whole fleshy substance of the 

 bird : those allotted to the feet are reduced to the least possible ouan. 



Bill and Tongue of Humming-Bird. 



a, (be head, proRIc; the tongue protruded from the bill, and showing iu 

 bifurcation ; the two branches of the 011 hroldes arc cen surrounding the era. 

 niuin ; />, the same seen from nborr, the two branches of the os hyoi<lo uniting 

 at a pointed angle in front ; c, the same seen from below ; rf, the tongue much 

 magnified, with rome of its soft parts directed away, but adhering to the os 

 hyoldcs and ita branches, as well as to the larynx, seen from above ; r, the samo 

 MM -n f icnii below, with the, os byoidei only, and the two lamellip uf iti point 

 eparalcd ; /, portion of (he tongue TC ry much magnified, wen from above, o 

 an to eonrey the idea of the manner in which the cylinder* that form it arc 

 united ; f, the lower side of the same. (Lemon.) 



The sight of the Hummiug-Rirds m well developed, and very acute 

 within the range required ordinarily for ita exercise : the sense of 

 hearing is quick. 



The plumage in which these dazzling birds are clad defies description 

 either with pen or pencil. The most brilliant metallic tints, the hues 

 of the richest gems, fde before the display made by many of the 

 living adult males. "Splendet ut sol," says Marograve, (speaking of 

 one of them. Audebert applied himself to account for this brilliancy 

 of colour, and to demonstrate on mathematical principles that it is duo 

 to the organisation of the feathers, and to the manner in which the 

 luminous rays are reflected on falling upon them. M. Lesson thinks 

 that this colour is, first, the result of the elements contained in the 

 blood and elaborated by the circulation ; and that, secondly, the 



