TKOCHILUS. BIRDS. 261 



bent inwards, points sharp ; upper mandibles finely notched at 

 the point ; tongue long, not extensible, bifid, filamentous ; 

 tarsus longer than the middle toe ; lateral toes equal ; tail of 

 medium size. 



C. cyanea, Tern. Plumage ultra-marine blue ; crown of the head 

 pale green ; tail and outer sides of the wings black, with oblique 

 blue band on the wings ; insides of the wings yellow. 4| inches 

 long. Inhabits Brazil Shaw, viii. pi. 32. 



C. spiza, Tern. Plumage green, with the under parts, wings, and 

 tail tinged with blue; crown and cheeks black. 5 inches long. 

 Inhabits S. America Edtv. pi. 25. 



Gen. 10. TROCHILUS, Lin. 



Bill long, straight or arcuated, tubular, very slender, base de- 

 pressed, acuminated ; upper mandible almost concealing the 

 lower ; tongue long, extensible, bifid, and tubular ; nostrils 

 open before, covered by a broad membrane ; legs very short ; 

 tarsus shorter than the middle toe ; the three anterior toes 

 nearly divided ; wings graduated, the first feather longest. 



The birds of this family are of very small dimensions, and, with a very few ex- 

 ceptions, inhabit the southern regions of America. They fly very rapidly, take their 

 food on the wing, and suck the honied juice of flowers. They construct an elegant 

 hemispherical nest of the down of a species of Thapsus, and suspend it over branch- 

 es of trees, where it is concealed by the leaves, the female laying two white eggs of 

 the size of peas. The male assists in incubation. The unrivalled brilliancy of 

 their colours has been aptly compared to the richest metallic hues, or to the change- 

 able reflections of gems, and in sunshine they glow with peculiar splendour. This 

 numerous genus has been divided by some naturalists into those with curved, and 

 those with straight bills ; and by others as their tail is more or less forked, square, 

 or rounded. 



T. pella, Lin. Topaz-throated Humming-Bird. Plumage purple- 

 red, with black head, topaz-coloured throat, and the two middle 

 tail-feathers very long. Body equal in size to that of a wren, but 

 including the middle tail-feathers 8 to 10 inches long. Inhabits 

 S. America. Shaw, viii. pi. 37 



T. sparganurus, Shaw. Bar-tailed Humming Bird. Plumage gol- 

 den green, with emerald-coloured throat, black forked tail, and 

 a crimson gold bar across the feathers. 3 inches long; two 

 long tail-feathers 4J inches. Peru. Shaw, viii. pi. 39*. 



T. enicurus, Tern. Jugulum, lower part of the breast at the side 

 and chin golden green ; neck in front at the base, breast above, 

 and belly in the middle white ; throat lilac ; six tail-feathers, the 

 two middle golden green, the others black Shaw, xiv. pi. 28. 



T. jugular is, Lin. Red-breasted Humming-Bird. Plumage above 

 deep golden green ; throat and breast blood-red ; abdomen black- 

 ish, and short tail. 4J inches long. S. America. Edw. pi. 266. 



T. squalidus, Natterer. Plumage obscure brownish, sides of the 

 head with two reddish white bands ; a brown stripe through the 

 eyes ; back with a metallic tinge ; breast reddish ash-coloured ; 

 vent red ; quills white at the tip. Brazil Tern. PL Col. 120, fig. 1. 



