143 



AZURE-CROWNED HUMMING-BIRD. 



Trochilus quadricolor. VIEILLOT. 



PLATE IX. 



'Trochilus quadricolor, Vieittot. OiBeau-mouche a tete cTazur, 

 Ornismya cyanocephala, Lesson, Histoire Naturelle des 

 Oiseaux-mouches. Supplement, pis. xvii. and xviii. 



THIS very beautiful species has been described b v 

 Vieillot by the name we have adopted, as that of its 

 prior describe! ; and although perhaps not quite so 

 applicable as that given by Lesson, it should be 

 adopted. We are at a loss to understand why that 

 ornithologist has introduced so many changes of no* 

 menclature in his beautiful monograph. 



An inspection of the plate will show a difference 

 of form from any of those previously described ; and 

 it is probable that this species will form the type, or 

 a very marked individual, in one of the subdivisions. 

 The total length is nearly four inches ; the bill is 

 straight, rather enlarged at the base, and of a clear 

 yellow, except the tip, which is black; the tarsi 

 are very short; a patch, or cowl, of brilliant blue, 

 covers the crown, extending to the occiput, from the 



