117 

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DESCRIPTIONS. 



THE following plates, with their descriptions, have 

 been made as much as possible from specimens of the 

 birds themselves, but when these could not be pro- 

 cured, they are taken from those works which could 

 be most relied upon for their accuracy. We have 

 accordingly availed ourselves generally of Lesson's 

 splendid monograph of this family, and of Temminck's 

 Planches Coloriees. For the plate of the sabre-winged 

 humming-bird, we are indebted to Mr Swainson, who 

 kindly permitted his beautiful figure, in the first series 

 of the Zoological Illustrations) to be copied, and speci- 

 mens of the bird itself having since reached us, have 

 served for the description. 



The systematic arrangement of this family presents 

 considerable difficulties. Mr Swainson has given the 

 characters of what he considers the five leading groups, 

 and has also formed several subgenera. M. Lesson 

 has also instituted several families and genera, and 

 we understand that Mr Lodiges, who possesses a col- 

 lection unrivaled by any in Europe, has lately been 

 engaged in working out their proper arrangement., 



