177 



HALF-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. 



Trochilus enicurus VIEILLOT. 

 PLATE XXVII. 



Trochilus enicurus, Vieillot, Nouvelle Dictionnairc dllistoire 

 Naturelle Oiseau-mouche a queue singuliere, Temminc/c, 

 Planches Coloriees, pi. Ixvi. fig. 3, Lesson, Histoire Natu- 

 relle des Oiseaux-mouches, pi. xv. p. 72. Ornismya hetero- 

 pygia, Lesson's Synopsis. 



THIS humming-bird, remarkable in having only 

 six quills in the tail, was first figured by Temminck, 

 who remarks, " we cannot doubt the existence of 

 this singular bird, as, besides that which I have 

 myself seen, M. Vieillot has assured me that he 

 has seen many others, (plusieurs autres.) Bullock's 

 museum possessed a specimen, Delalande another, 

 in no way differing from the specimen in the Baron 

 Laguier's Collection/' The last-mentioned specimen 

 has served as a copy for both Temminck and Lesson, 

 which we have also used. There appears in all the 

 specimens to be no falling out or want of the feathers, 

 and it is a real anomaly among its numerous family. 



