152 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



in size, the largest measuring nine and a half inches, 

 while the smallest is but little bigger than a bumble- 

 bee. In the matter of the shape of the beak and 

 tail they present hardly less variety. Thus the 

 beak may be short and straight, curved upwards or 

 downwards, or drawn out into a great probe, consid- 

 erably longer than the whole body. The tail may be 

 short and rounded or long and Swallow-like, and in 

 some species these long tail-feathers cross one another 

 in graceful curves, while in others these crossed feath- 

 ers are drawn out into mere threads, terminating in 

 oval expansions. 



But it is on account of the exquisite beauty of their 

 plumage, resplendent in the most gorgeous metallic 

 hues, that the Humming-birds have become so famous. 

 No other birds can vie with these fairy-like creatures 

 in this respect. 



One of the most elegant, though by no means the 

 most gorgeous of all, is the Double-crested Hum- 

 ming-bird, a native of Brazil. See Plate 21, Fig. 121. 



The Coquette Humming-bird is a native of Cen- 

 tral America. Ten different species of Coquette 

 Humming-birds are known, ranging from Mexico 

 southwards. They are easily distinguished by their 

 crested heads and the "ruff," which projects from the 

 throat. See Plate 21, Fig. 122. 



Perhaps the most gorgeous birds in existence in so 

 far as the colouring of the tail is concerned, are the 

 Fire-tailed Humming-birds. Three species are 

 known. They inhabit Peru, Bolivia and the Argen- 

 tine Republic. See Plate 21, Fig. 128. 



