AURULENT HUMMING-BIRD. 131 



the general distribution of colour, has the tail consi- 

 derably forked ; it is the 



AURULENT HUMMING-BIRD. 



Trochilus aurulentus LATHAM. 



Aurulent Humming-Bird, Trochilus aurulentus, Latham, 

 General History, iv. p. 307 Le Hausse col dore, Lesson, 

 Histoire Naturelle des Colibris, pis. xvi. xvii. xviii. xix. 



LESSON has devoted no less than four plates to 

 this splendid species, which we have said differs 

 from the others placed in this group, by the forked 

 tail. This form of the tail, however, is peculiar 

 to the males, that of the young and females being 

 in accordance with the characters of the others. 

 It is a curious fact, that, in a great many species, 

 the tail, which assumes such a variety of form, de- 

 viates in the males only in those species which, 

 though in other respects they would be named 

 " aberrant," Gould not be with propriety separated. 



The upper parts of this bird are of a golden-green, 

 which extends to the flanks and lower tail coverts. 

 The gorget or throat-patch is of a brilliant golden- 

 yellow, reflected with green. It occupies the whole 

 fore part of the neck, and upper part of the breast. 

 The breast and belly, in a line with the insertion of 

 the thighs, is deep bluish-black, following which, and 

 between the tail-coverts, there is a band of white. 

 The tail has the centre feathers green on the upper 



