262 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



duction of others to synonyms. It is true that the Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux- 

 mouches of MM. Mulsant and Verreaux and M. Mulsant' s Catalogue— these being 

 among the most notable publications of this period — can scarcely be regarded as tend- 

 ing in this direction, viewing the mauy additional new names which they present. 

 Having seen ueither of these treatises, I can not judge of their claims to be considered 

 as advancing or improving the science. But it can not be doubted that the patient 

 and faithful study which Messrs. D. G. Elliot aud O. Salvin have of late applied to 

 the amelioration of Trochilidine affairs has done much toward the needed reform. 

 These skillful ornithologists have published numerous papers reviewing different 

 groups of Hummers, uuder the most advantageous circumstances as regards handling 

 material and examining literature, and their criticisms have been of the greatest 

 service, not only in defining genera and species, but in sifting synonymy and settling 

 nomenclature. Mr. Elliot's labors have borne their final fruit in his Classification 

 and Synopsis of the Trochilidw. However qualified a success the experts may con- 

 clude this performance to be, it is certainly a great boon to the working ornitholo- 

 gist, and a faithful reflection of the present state of our knowledge respecting the 

 exquisite creatures to the elucidation of whose history it is devoted. 



NAMES AND THEIR ORIGIN. 



The origin aud meaning of the term " Hamming Bird" and of other 

 names by which these birds are known in various languages are very 

 tersely explained by Mr. Gould iu his magnificent Monograph of the 

 Trochilidse, as follows : 



The questions have often been asked, Whence is the term Humming Bird derived? 

 and Why is the bird so called ? 



I may state in reply that owing to the rapid movement of the wings of most of the 

 members of this group, but especially of the smaller species, a vibratory or humming 

 sound is produced while the bird is in the air, which may be heard at the distance 

 of several yards, and that it is from this circumstance that the trivial name by 

 which these birds are known in England has arisen. In France they are recognized 

 by the terms Oiseau-Mouche [fly-bird] and Colibri; in Germany their common appel- 

 lation is Eolibri; by the Dutch they are called Kolibrielje; by the Spaniards, Pica- 

 flores [flower peckers] and Tomi no ; by the Portuguese, Tomeneco and Beija flor; in 

 the neighborhood of Xalapa they are known by the names of Chupa-rosa and Chupa- 

 myrta, Rose-sucker and Myrtle-sucker; by the Creoles of the Antilles and Guiana 

 they are known by the names of Murmures [murmurers], Bourdons, and Frou-frous. 

 From the Mexicans, Peruvians, aud other nations of South America they have 

 received various appelations, such as Ourissa, Huilzitzil, Tzitztoiotl, Guanumbia, 

 Quinti or Quintiut, Quind4, Visiclin, Pigada, aud Courbiri, all terms of a metaphorical 

 character, signifying "rays of the sun," "tresses of the day-star," "murmuring 

 birds," etc. 



In addition to the foregoing, Marcgrave mentions Guainumbi or 

 Guinambi, Aratica, and Aratarataguaca as names by which they were 

 known among the Brazilian Indians of his day. The English name, Hum- 

 ming Bird, is sometimes shortened into Hummer, but this term is not so 

 satisfactory as the other, notwithstanding the advantage of brevity. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The Humming Birds, more than any other family, constitute the 

 most remarkable feature of the New World bird-life. They have abso- 

 lutely no representatives in any other part of the world, the Swifts being 



