THE EACKET-TAIL HUMMING-BIED. 



235 



with a patch of delicate crimson iu the centre. The lower part of the back and the upper 

 tail-coverts are beautiful green with orange gloss ; and the wings and tail are purple- 

 bh^ck, with the exception of the two elongated feathers of the tail, which are purplish- 

 green, and cross each other near the base. The under tail-coverts are green. So vivid 

 are the tints, and so beautiful the 

 form of this bird, that it well 

 deserves the honourable title ac- 

 corded to it by Prince Lucien 

 Bonaparte of being "inter Trochi- 

 lides ipidcherrimus." The female 

 is without the elongated tail- 

 feathers, and she is of a green- 

 gold colour on the upper parts of 

 the body. This species is very 

 like the following bird, but may 

 be distinguished from it by the 

 purple of its tail-feathers and the 

 fiery effulgence of its body. The 

 entire length of this bird is about 

 eight inches. 



The Ceimson Topaz, or Aea 

 HuMlvnNG-BiED {Tojjaza Pella), 

 closely resembles the fiery topaz, 

 except that the hues of its body 

 are more of a deep crimson than 

 of the flaming scarlet which de- 

 notes the preceding species. The 

 tail is reddish-buff, with the ex- 

 ception of the two central feathers 

 which have the same purple-green 

 as in T. Pyra. It inhabits Cay- 

 enne, Trinidad, and Surinam, and 

 among the natives is known by 

 the name of Karabamiti. It is a 

 shy and retiring bird, living near 

 rivers, and shrouding its beauties 

 in the deepest forests. It is a 

 semi-nocturnal bird, resembling 

 the nightjars in many of its habits, 

 and being most active in the early 

 dawn and the beginning of the 

 evening. Only at those hours 

 does it venture from the deep 

 recesses of its home, and display 

 its flashing colours as it darts 

 along the glades or over the streams 

 in search of its insect prey. 



We have in the Eacket-tailed Humming-birds one of those singular forms which are 

 so often found among these strange little birds. 



The Eacket-tail Humming-bied {Discura longicauda) is a native of Cayenne, 

 Surinam, and Demerara, and is also found in several portions of Northern Brazil. It is 

 chiefly remarkable for the curious formation from wliich it derives its popular and 

 appropriate name. 



In the male bird, the face, throat, and part of the neck are light verditer-green, 



FIERY TOPAZ HUMMING-BIRD.— Topdza Pyra. 



