462 



SYSTEM A TIC STNOPSIS. — PICARIJE — CYPSELIFOEMES. 



dusky; tail double-rounded, the central feathers shorter than the next, the lateral then gradu- 

 ated ; all broader than in ^ to near the end, then rapidly narrowing with concave inner margin ; 

 tail with black bars, and the lateral feathers white-tipped ; no rufous on tail in either sex. 

 Length of ^ 3.25; extent 5.00; wiug 1.75 ; tail 1.35 ; bill 0.66. ^sroaller: length 2. SO; 

 extent 4.60. Eastern N. Am., especially U. S., abundant in summer, generally seen hovering 

 about flowers, sometimes i it flocks. Feeds on insects, and the sweets of flowers. Nest a beau- 

 tiful structure, of downy substances, stuccoed with lichens outside; eggs two, white, 0.50 

 X 0.35. 

 410. T. alexan'dri. (To Alexander. Fig. 305.) Alesaxdee Hummixg-BIKD. Size and general 

 apipearance of T. coliibris. ^ : Tail double-rounded, i. c.. centrally emarginate, laterally 

 rounded: central emargination about 0.10. lateral graduatiun 

 more ; the feathers all acumiuate, aud wlnde-colored. Upper 

 parts, including two middle tail-feathers, as in T. colnhiis. 

 ,,.. Gorget opaque velvety black, only posteriorly glittering with 

 /' 1}J violet, sapphire and emerald. Other under parts whitish, green 

 on sides. Length 3.35 ; wiug 1.75 ; tail 1.25 ; bill from frontal 



feathers 0.75. 9: Tail difl'erent from that of (7, both in shape 

 Fig, .i05. — .ilexaii.ler Ham- , , , , , 



miDg-liird, tail c.f yiiiingd' ami 5, and ci.dor ; simply slightly rounded (without appreciable central 

 n.at. size. (From Elliot, i emargination), the lateral feathers scarcely acuminate; middle 



feathers like the back, darkening at ends; others with broad purplish-black space near end, 

 and white-tipped ; thus so closely resembliug cohibris 9 that the lack of decided emargina- 

 tion of the tail is the principial character. Xo gorget, the throat whitish with dusky specks. 

 California, Utah, Arizona, and probably other portions of S"\V. U- S. 

 137. SELAS'PHORUS. (Gr. o-fAaj, light ; (|)opo's:, bearing.) LiGiiTXlXG HuMSlERS. Bill slender 

 and subidate; frontal feathers covering nasal scale. Tail in (J 9 graduated or rounded, nut 

 forked, and extensively rufous or tipped witli wliite. The central njuch broader than the lateral 

 feathers. Details of shapes of the feathers varying witli the species, and with the sexes (see 

 descriptions, and figs. 306, 307). Outer primary, or two outer ones, of ^ abruptly attenuate, 

 the end bowed ; inner six primaries not abruptly narrower tliau those further outward. 

 Tarsi naked. Bill black. A mettiUic gorget in (J, little or not produced into a ruff; no 

 scales on crown. 9 lacking the gorget, and tail white-tipped. 

 411. S. ru'fus. (Lat. riifiis, reddish.) Reu-backed Eufous Humjiixg-bied. Xootka Hum- 

 mixg-bii;d. (J: Nc metallic scales on crown. Gorget glancing coppery-red, somewhat pro- 

 longed into a ruff. Tail cuneate ; middle pair of feathers broad, narrowing rather suddenly to 

 a point. Next pair broad, 7ucked or emarginate near end (tig. 306). 

 Next three pairs successively narrowing gradually, but not even the outer 

 becoming acicular. Two outer primaries narrow, falcate, gradually very 

 acute, the ends bowed inward. General color above and below cinnamon- 

 red, becoming more or less green on the croM-n, and sometimes flaked ^\N>A \''l'l * \ '1 

 with green on the back, fading to white on the belly. Tail-feathers KVvW V. ^ \ '•' 

 cinnamon-red, dee])cning to dusky-purplish at ends. Quills duskv- \v!xNo^l\'\ 

 purpUsh. Lengtli ab<ait 3.50; wing 1.50-1.67, averaging 1.60; tail 

 1.30; bill 0.65. 9 showing the characters of the tail and wini;. but less 



plainly. Coloration extensively rufous, but overlaid with green; no Fig. 306. Tail of .y 



gorget, replaced by a few dusky-greenish feathers; under parts exten- ™/",?, nat. size, 

 sively white, but shaded with cinnamon on the sides and crissum. Middle tail-feathers glossed 

 with greenish, darkening to black at end, and usually touched with cinnamon at base; other 

 tail-feathers extensively rufous, then black, finally white-tipped. Length 3.20; wing 1.70 ; 

 fciil 1.20. (On comparing 9 riifiis with 9 p!att/cercus, a great difference in the size of the 

 outer feather is observable; in rvfiis this ft ather is only 0.12 broad, and under 1.00 long; in 



