THE SLENDER SHEAR-TAIL. 343 



Trochilus was evidently a bird which had nothing in common with the 

 Humming-bird, and was most probably the ziczac of Egypt. 



The upper figure in the illustration on page 342 represents the Cora 

 Humming-bird, a native of Peru. The head and back are gold-green, 

 the wings are purple, and the throat is violet or crimson according to 

 the direction of the light. 



In the centre is the Double-crest, a Brazilian species. It derives 

 its name from the crest-like feathers that start from either side of the 

 head. The top of the head is azure, and the throat fiery crimson. The 

 sides of the face and the chin are velvet black. 



The Bar-tail occupies the right of the illustration. It is a native 

 of Bolivia, and derives its name from the black tips of the crimson tail- 

 feathers. The body is green. 



On the left is Gould's Humming-bird, a lovely little creature re- 

 markable for the beautiful neck-tufts, with their pure white feathers 

 tipped with green. It is found in the Amazon district. 



The Slender Shear-tail is an inhabitant of Central America, and 

 appears to be rather a local bird. It is supposed not to be found south 

 of the Isthmus of Panama, or to extend more than eighteen degrees 



HUMMINO-BIRDS. 



northward. As its wings are rather short and not remarkable for 

 strength, it is conjectured to be a non-migratory bird. The country 

 where it is seen in the greatest plenty is Guatemala. 



The sexes of this creature are very different in their form and the 

 color of their plumage, and could hardly be recognized as belonging to 

 the same species. In the adult male bird the upper parts of the body 

 are a deep shining green, becoming brown on the head, and changmg 

 into bronze on the back and wing-coverts. The wings are purple-brown. 

 The long and deep forked tail is black, with the exception of a little 

 brown upon the inner web of the two uttermost feathers. The chin is black 



