HUMMING-BIRDS (TrochilidcE) 



These brilliantly-coloured little forms, of which between 400 and 

 500 species have been described, are perhaps the most attractive 

 members of their class, and some of them are the smallest known 

 birds. Excluding the tail, which is often long out of all proportion, 

 they vary in length from S% to rather less than 2> inches. They 

 are wholly American (and West Indian), ranging from Tierra del 

 Fuego to Canada, and from sea-level to a vertical height of 16,000 

 feet. The mountains and hills of the northern parts of South 

 America are inhabited by the largest number of beautiful species. 

 Unfortunately, like many other birds of attractive plumage, they 

 are ruthlessly hunted down to minister to the vanity of womankind. 



The species represented in the plate are: i. Lamprolcema rhanii, 

 2. Thalurania furcata, 3. Lesbia sparganura^ 4. Calypte Helence, 

 5. Diphlogana hesperus. 



