126 RECURVKr-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD. 



corollse are long, and generally bent in their tube ; 

 the nectar being at the bottom, could not be reached 

 either by a straight or a curved bill, though very easily 

 by one corresponding to the shape of the flower. 



" Bill black, depressed along the whole length, but 

 more especially at the tip, which is rounded, thin, 

 obtuse, and recurved in both mandibles, the under of 

 which, towards the middle, has a convex swelling, 

 which gives the recurvature a stronger appearance. 

 All the upper plumage and body beneath golden 

 green ; the throat to the breast shining with scale-like 

 feathers, of a vivid emerald green ; from the breast 

 to the vent is a stripe of black down the middle; 

 thighs white ; tail even ; the two middle feathers dull 

 greenish blue, the rest above obscure coppery brown, 

 but beneath of a rich shining topaz colour." 



It was purchased at Bullock's sale, and that gentle- 

 man received it from Peru. 



