90 



AMETHYSTINE HUMMING-BIRD. 



Trochilus amethystinus LIXX^EUS. 

 PLATE IX. 



Trochilus amethystinus, Linn&us. Amethystine Hum. 

 ming-Bird, Latham, General History of Birds, vol. iv. 



p. 357. Oiseau-mouche amethyste, Euffon Lesson, 



Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches, and Supplement* 

 pis. Ixvii. xx. xxi. xxii. 



THIS long known but beautiful species Lesson 

 has represented on no less tban four Plates, exhibit- 

 ing different states of plumage, all of which we shall 

 endeavour to make use of to render the present de- 

 scription as perfect as possible. The colours of the 

 adult are simple, the upper parts are of a fine golden 

 green, the lower grey, and the throat is adorned by 

 the amethystine patch from whence the name is de- 

 rived. The colour of the amethyst must be familiar 

 to most persons, and to say that it resembles it, will 

 convey the best idea of its beauty. It is surround- 

 ed on the lower part with a light grey crescent. 



In the adult the tail is deeply forked, the outward 

 feathers being narrow and slender. 



In the Plates representing the birds assuming the 

 adult plumage, those parts which shew the amethys- 

 tine tints are pure white, ihe feathers in this state 



