262 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



duction of others to synonyms. It is true that tho Ffisioirc Naturellc des Oiseaux-< 

 mouches of MM. Mulsaut and Verreaux and M. Mulsant's (,'atalog lie these being 

 among the most notable publications of this period can scarcely be regarded as tend- 

 ing in this direction, viewing the many additional new names which they present. 

 Having seen neither of these treatises, I can not judge of their claims to be considered 

 as advancing or improving the science. But it can not be doubted that the patient 

 and faithful study which Messrs. D. G. Elliot and O. Salvin have of late applied to 

 the amelioration of Trochilidine affairs has done much toward the needed reform. 

 These skillful ornithologists have published numerous papers reviewing different 

 groups of Hummers, under the most advantageous circumstances as regards handling 

 material and examining literature, and their criticisms have been of the greatest 

 service, not only in defining genera and species, but in sifting synonymy and settling 

 nomenclature. Mr. Elliot's labors have borne their final fruit in his Classification 

 and Synopsis of the Trochilidce. However qualified a success the experts may con- 

 clude this performance to be, it is certainly a great boon to the working ornitholo- 

 gist, and a faithful reflection of the present state of our knowledge respecting tho 

 exquisite creatures to the elucidation of whose history it is devoted. 



NAMES AND THEIR ORIGIN. 



The origin arid meaning of the term " Humming Bird" and of other 

 names by which these birds are known in various languages are very 

 tersely explained by Mr. Gould in his magnificent Monograph of the 

 Trochilidse, as follows : 



The questions have often been asked, Whence is the term Humming Bird derived ? 

 and Why is the bird so called 



I may state in reply that owing to the rapid Aove ment of the wings of most of the 

 members of this group, but especially of the smaller species, a vibratory or humming 

 sound is produced while the bird is in the air, which may be heard at the distance 

 of several yards, and that it is from this circumstance that the trivial name by 

 which these birds are known in England has arisen. In France they are recognized 

 by the terms Oiseau-Mouche [fly-bird] and Colibri', in Germany their common appel- 

 lation is Kolibri; by the Dutch they are called Kolibrielje; by the Spaniards, Pica- 

 Jlores [flower peckers] and Tomino; by the Portuguese, Tomeneco and Beija flor; in 

 the neighborhood of Xalapa they are known by the names of Chupa-rosa and Chupa- 

 myrtit, Rose-sucker and Myrtle-sucker; by the Creoles of the Antilles and Guiana 

 they are known by the names of Mur mures [murmurers], Bourdons, and Frou-frous. 

 From the Mexicans, Peruvians, and other nations of South America they have 

 received various appelations, such as Ourissa, Huitzitzil, Tzitztolotl, Guanumbia, 

 Qiiinti or Quintiut, Quind^, Visiclin, Pigada, and Courbiri, all terms of a metaphorical 

 character, signifying "rays of the sun," "tresses of the day-star," "murmuring 

 birds," etc. 



In addition to the foregoing, Marcgrave mentions GuainumM or 

 Quinambi, Aratica, and Aratarataguaca as names by which they were 

 known among the Brazilian Indians of his day. The English name, Hum- 

 ming Bird, is sometimes shortened into Hummer, but this term is not so 

 satisfactory as the other, notwithstanding the advantage of brevity, 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The Humming Birds, more than any other family, constitute the 

 most remarkable feature of the New World bird- life. They have abso- 

 lutely no representatives in any other part of the world, the Swifts being 



