119 



SPOTTED SAW-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD.* 



Ramphodon navius. LESSON. 



PLATE I. MALE. 



Trochilus naevius, Dumont Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles, 



x. 55 Colibri tachete, Trochilus nsevius, Temminck, Plan- 



ches Coloriees, cxx. fig. 3 Le Ramphodon tachete, Rampho- 

 don tnaculatum, Lesson, Histoire Naturelle des Colibris, 

 pl.L 



WE mentioned in the introductory part of the work, 

 that among the humming-birds we did not generally 

 meet with, in the form of the bill, any evident provi- 

 sion for securing an insect prey as among the truly 

 insectivorous tribes, farther than the retractile tongue. 

 For the species now figured, there is, however, an 

 exception in the strong and rather broad bill, furnished 

 upon each edge of the mandibles with strong recurved 

 teeth, evidently intended to assist in securing some 

 peculiar prey, and reminding us by this formation., 

 and the sharp hooked point, of some water-fowl which 

 are provided with these requisites, for seizing a plun- 



* It may be here mentioned, that all the figures in tliis volume 

 are represented of the natural size. 



