TOPAZ HUMMING-BIRDS 153 



The Topaz Humming-birds are hardly surpassed 

 by any other members of this group in brilliancy of 

 plumage. They are distinguished by the two long 

 middle tail-feathers, which cross one another in grace- 

 ful fashion. The species here figured is a native of 

 the Rio Negro. See Plate 21, Fig. 124. 



Not the least remarkable of the many peculiarities 

 which distinguish the Humming-bird is the curious 

 way in which some develop a kind of "powder-puff" 

 around the legs. This is well seen in the Racquet- 

 tailed Humming-bird, of which six species are known, 

 inhabiting South America from Venezuela and Co- 

 lombia, through Ecuador and Peru, into Bolivia. 

 See Plate 21, Fig. 125. 



As we have already remarked, these birds are by no 

 means confined to the tropics. They have been seen 

 flitting about the fuchsias of Terra del Fuego in a 

 blinding snowstorm, and they are met with on the 

 lofty mountains of Chimborazo as high up as 16,000 

 feet, dwelling in a world of almost continuous hail, 

 sleet and rain. 



These wonderful birds feed chiefly on insects which 

 harbour amid the petals of honey-bearing flowers. To 

 procure these they have developed a most remarkable 

 tubular tongue of complex structure, which is so con- 

 trived as to suck up the honey and insects at the same 

 time. 



Beautiful as these birds appear in pictures, they 

 are far more beautiful in life, for no picture can pos- 

 sibly represent the superb play of colour which takes 

 place with every movement of the body. Though 

 stuffed specimens lose much of their beauty, they re- 



