124 



RECURVED-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD. 



Trochilus recurvirostris.SwAWsov. 



PLATE III. YOUNG. 



Recurved-billed Humming-bird, Swamson, Zoological Illustra- 

 tions, 1st series, pi. CT. Oiseau-mouche a bee recourbe, Ornis- 

 mya recurvirostris, Lesson, Ilistoire Naturelle des Oiseaux- 

 mouches, pi. xxxvii. p. 129, and Supplement, pi. xxxiv. p. 166. 



IT has been asserted by some ornithologists, that 

 the curvature of the bill in these birds was an acci- 

 dental formation, or received in transportation, from 

 the position in which the specimen was laid. This 

 was maintained as long as Mr Swainson's specimen 

 was the only one generally known ; but we have al- 

 ready mentioned two with the same formation, and 

 Lesson says, that he has seen six or seven individuals 

 having the upward bend; there can be no doubt, 

 therefore, that it is a peculiarity of structure which 

 will have its use in the economy of the species. 



The specimen used for this figure, had not quite 

 attained the complete plumage. The length was 

 about three inches and three lines, that of the bill 

 about nine lines; the latter is black, strong, much 

 bent, and ending in a fine depressed point. The 



