68 HUMMING-BIRDS. 



these frail and shining beings. In the present vo- 

 lume we have given descriptions of most of the birds 

 which have been satisfactorily established, and trust 

 that the young Ornithologist will thus be enabled to 

 determine the greater number of those which may 

 come under his observation ; these, as far as pos- 

 sible, follow a plate somewhat representing the par- 

 ticular form. At the conclusion, we have given a 

 condensed Synopsis of the species, mentioning with 

 each the modern genus in which it has been placed. 

 An arrangement of the genera is not now attempt- 

 ed ; for it is not yet very clearly established how these 

 genera should stand, even by those who have had op- 

 portunities of seeing the greater part of the family to- 

 gether and we are not surprised at this, when we 

 look at the almost infinite variety of form which is as- 

 sumed among them. They will one day constitute a 

 most useful illustration of the natural system, strik- 

 ingly representing forms in the other divisions of the 

 great class to which they belong. 



When alluding to the splendid plumage and singu- 

 lar feathered appendages of the males, we did not 

 mention that we conceived it peculiar to the season 

 of incubation. In many of those which are described 

 as the young, before the brilliant plumage has been 

 attained, we consider that it is from the difference of 

 season, not of age, that this takes place ; and instead 

 of being called the adult plumage, it should rather 

 obtain the name of the nuptial dress. We believe 

 a change takes place in the plumage of tdl birds 



