THE GKEEN-TAILED SYLPH. 263 



It is so like the ivory of the elephant's tusks, that 

 it cannot be distinguished from it. 



The beautiful bird in the Picture lives in this 

 part of the world, and frequents the banks of the 

 great rivers. 



It belongs to the tribe of Humming-Birds that 

 have tails more or less forked. 



The name of Sylph has been given to it perhaps 

 on account of its exceeding grace and loveliness. 

 The colours of its sapphire throat, and emerald 

 crown, and olive-green feathers, blend harmoni- 

 ously together. Its long forked green tail is 

 tipped with yellow. 



To this family group belong many birds with 

 tails deeply forked, and that are of great beauty. 

 There is the Racket-tailed Humming-Bird, that 

 has a spoon-like tip at the end of each fork, a little 

 like the Racquet-tailed Kingfisher; and the Black- 

 capped Humming-Bird, with a black crest, and 

 tail-feathers also black, and lengthened to a con- 

 siderable extent ; and the Swallow-tailed Hum- 

 ming-Bird, with a tail of indigo blue. 



