RACKET-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. 137 



The only other species whose tail takes a similar 

 form is the 



RACKET-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. 



TrocMlus platurus LATHAM. 



Racket-Tailed Humming-Bird, Latham, General History, 

 iv., p. 338 Oiseau-mouche a raquettes, Lesson, Hi&toire 

 Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouche, p. xl. 



THIS bird at first- sight has nearly the resemblance 

 of the last, but is at once distinguished from it by 

 the unplumed tarsi. It is of a duller green above, 

 and is of a uniform tint. The gorget is of the same 

 bright emerald green, and occupies nearly a similar 

 place, covering the whole of the fore part of the 

 throat and neck. The belly is of a dull brown, 

 tinged with green, and the vent and under-tail co- 

 verts are nearly pure white. The tail above, green- 

 ish brown, beneath of reddish or yellowish white. 

 The feathers, excepting the two outer ones, are 

 pointed, and assume a slightly forked form. The 

 two on the outside exceed the others by about half 

 their own length, and the shafts commence to be en- 

 tirely bare where they exceed the length of the others, 

 and are finished by a nearly round tip of black plume 

 in the form of a racket-board. 



The plumage of the female is not very well known. 

 Guiana is the only country whence they have been 

 Deceived. 



