66 PASSERES. TROCHILID^E. 



on each side of the equator. Captain King saw 

 one at Tierra del Fuego, sporting in the midst of 

 a snow shower, when the winter had already set 

 in, and the mountains around were covered with 

 snow. Though the species which compose the 

 Family are very much alike in their important 

 characters, yet as they are very numerous, up- 

 wards of two hundred species being known, they 

 have been divided into several genera, founded, 

 indeed, on comparatively slight distinctions, as the 

 length and curvature of the beak, the form of the 

 wings, and the greater or less development of the 

 feathers of the tail, and of other parts. 



GENUS TROCHILUS. (LiNN.) 



In this genus the beak is of moderate length, 

 slightly curved downward, broad and flattened at 

 the base, and tapering uniformly to the point ; the 

 edges of the upper mandible inclosing the lower 

 for the greater part of its length. The tail is 

 forked, but the exterior feather, save one, on each 

 side, is excessively prolonged beyond its fellows. 



The Long-tailed Humming-bird ( TrocJiilus polyt- 

 mus 9 LINN.) is one of the most elegant of this 

 lovely race. Its coral-beak, its double crest of 

 black velvet, its golden back, its ample gorget of 

 scaly plumage, now black, now olive, and now 

 suddenly flashing with the hue of the emerald, 

 and its lengthened tail-plumes of raven-purple, 

 conspire to give it a pre-eminence in beauty, over 

 many which are adorned with more showy and 

 more varied hues. It is peculiar to Jamaica, but 

 there it is very common, especially in the recluse 

 mountain-gorges of that magnificent island. 



