368 CLASS AVES. 



9 



which the bird employs to suck the nectar of the 

 flowers. Nevertheless, they also live on insects. 

 Their very small feet ; their wide tail ; their wings 

 excessively long and narrow, in consequence of the 

 rapid shortening of the quills ; the short humerus ; 

 the sternum without slope, constitute a system of 

 flight like that of the martins. Accordingly, we find 

 the humming-bii'ds balance themselves in the air as 

 well as some flies. Thus they hover round plants, 

 or flowery shrubs, and they fly more rapidly in 

 proportion than any other bird. They live isolated, 

 defend their nests with courage, and fight bitterly 

 amongst themselves. We reserve the name of 

 Trochilus to those which have the bill arched. 

 Some are distinguished by the prolongation of the 

 intermediate feathers of the tail. 



We shall cite but one of the largest and most 

 handsome. 



The Topaz Humming-bird. Troch, Pella. Enl. 592. 



Moronne-purple ; head black ; throat of the most 

 brilliant topaz yellow, changing into green, ena- 

 melled with black. 



Supercilious Humming-bird. ( Trochilus Super- 

 ciliosus.) Enl. 600, Vieil. 17, 18, 19. 



Brown above, with a gilded gloss ; over each eye, a 

 white stripe ; quills violet-broAvn ; under part, rufous 

 white. Near six inches. 



Tr. Leucurus. Enl. 600, 3. 

 Green- gold above ; beneath, greyish- white ; crescent 

 of red on the breast. Surinam. 



