169 



VIOLET FORK EB-T AILED HUMMING-BIRD. 



Trochilus furcatus. GMELIN. 



PLATE XXIII. 



Trochilus furcatus, Gmelin, xxvi L'Oiseau-mouche a queue 

 fourchue, Buffon, Planches Enluminies, 672, tig. 1. ? Lesser 

 forked-tailed Humming-Bird, Latham's General History, 

 Variety B. Oiseau-mouche violet a queue fourchue, Ornismya 

 furcata, Lesson, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches, 

 pi. xviii. p. 82. 



THIS species, one of the oldest known, is common in 

 many parts of South America, and possesses a con- 

 siderable geographical range, being found in Brasil and 

 Guiana, the island of Jamaica, and Cayenne. Not- 

 withstanding, the male only is known, and even the 

 plumage of the young is not accurately ascertained. 



The bill, of considerable strength, is very slightly 

 bent, and of a deep black. The general state of this 

 bird is nearly that as figured by Buffon, golden green 

 above, with the wings and tail inclining to a violet 

 purple, a patch upon the throat of beautiful amethys- 

 tine purple, and the under parts pure white, tinged 



