178 HALF-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. 



Nevertheless, and without any disparagement to the 

 accuracy of these high authorities, we feel great curi- 

 osity to examine specimens of this bird. If the con- 

 struction of the tail proves as has been mentioned, it 

 will not only prove a singular tail among its own 

 large family, but will be the only known bird which 

 has only six tail feathers. 



This little species is of a slender make ; above, of a 

 golden green, and the belly and vent are of the same 

 colours. The throat and upper part of the breast is 

 covered with a scaly patch of rich purple, and succeed- 

 ing this, bands of white and yellow fill up the space 

 between the gorget and green of the belly, stretching 

 over upon the back in a crescent form. The tail, as 

 we have mentioned, consists of six feathers of a pur- 

 plish brown, the outer pair very short, the others 

 lengthened, forming a fork of nearly two inches, almost 

 two-thirds of the length of the body, which widens, or 

 curves outward at the extremity. 



Vieillot says that it inhabits Brasil, M. Temminck 

 the island of Trinite. 



