142 TOPAZ-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD. 



The length of this hird, not including the long 

 centre tail feathers, is five inches and a half, these ex- 

 ceed the others by nearly three inches ; the colours 

 of the whole plumage of the body may be said to be 

 a rich brownish orange, in some lights appearing of 

 the deepest lake, and in others of a brilliant ruby 

 colour, tinted with golden ; on the lower surface the 

 golden lustre is most prevalent, above, the deep shade 

 and ruby tint ; the gorget is alternately of a topaz- 

 yellow or emerald green, and it is surrounded by a 

 shade of nearly velvet black, which gradually assumes 

 a purple tint, and shades into the colour of the 

 body ; the wings are very long and powerful ; the tail 

 is above of a golden green shaded with red, below 

 of a bright chestnut ; in form it is rather rounded, and 

 the two centre feathers make it appear sometimes 

 very lengthened, sometimes forked, according to their 

 position ; the tarsi are feathered to the division of the 

 toes. 



The young differ in wanting the long feathers in 

 the tail, the two centre plumes of which exceed the 

 others by about one-eighth of an inch ; the plumage 

 of the upper parts is of a bright green, with the ruby 

 tints appearing at intervals ; the under part has more 

 of the red colour, and is shaded with green and bright 

 orange ; the gorget has not appeared, though the 

 space for it is clearly seen. 



The female is somewhat less than the young males ; 

 the centre tail feathers are slightly longer; the prevail- 

 ing colour of the plumage is brilliant emerald green, 



