HUMMING-BIRDS. 



453 



curious appearance, the bill being so disproportionately long to the size of the body, 

 and it stops before a flower as though examining the interior, and then suddenly 

 thrusts in the long bill, repeating the action at various intervals. It takes long flights, 

 and other humming-birds keep out of its way, none daring to attack it, afraid prob- 

 ably of the long bill, which would doubtless make this bird a formidable antagonist. It 

 is of rather dull plumage, the sides of the breast alone being a bright luminous green. 



FIG. 225. 



sword-billed humming-bird. 



Patagona and Pterophanes, containing each a single species, the giants of the Tro- 

 chilidae, are the largest known forms. They are denizens of the Andean range from 

 Colombia to Chili. Patagona gigas is the largest species, a dull brownish-colored 

 bird, not unlike some snipe in general appearance. Its flight resembles somewhat 

 that of the martin, often, though, keeping the wings immovable. It has a habit of 

 darting into the air, striking the wings together, and then returning to its place. 



