203 



i\oi united by a membrane;, are by naturalists de- 

 nominated cloven-footed ; these for the greater 

 part iniiabit the plains and the woods, and feed 

 upon insects, fruits, or flesh. Of this class I 

 shall select those that are most remarkable for 

 the beauty of tiicir plumage, the melody of their 

 song, or any other quality. 



The pigda, known under the different names of 

 pica-flora, humming-bird, &c. is thetrochilus of 

 Linnjens, who has described twenty-two species 

 of it. It is generally very small ; the neck is 

 short, the head well proportioned,, the eyes are 

 black and vivid^ the bill is of the size of a pin, 

 and nearly of the same length as the body, the 

 tongue bifurcated, and tlic legs are short with 

 four toes; the tail consists of seven or nine fea- 

 thers tlie length of the body, and the wings are 

 very long. Their colours vary according to 

 their species ; but they are in geiieral very rich, 

 arid combine the splendour of gold and precious 

 stones with the most beautiful shades of every 

 hue, which they retain even after their death. 

 Tljey are very common thrviu:;hout Chili, and 

 during the summer are seen lilie buUeihies ho- 

 vering aronnd the fiowersj and appear as if sus- 

 pen;ied in the air. They make a hunmiing noise 

 Willi tin li- wings, but llieir nete is nofhing more 

 than a low warbling or cha<fering. The males 

 are di=liiigui>hable from I'-e females by tlie bril- 

 liancy of tlicir heads, whicli shine like fire. 



