Order II. PASSERES. Tribe II. Tbnuirostres. Family III. Trochilid^e. 



The third Subfamily, 



MELLISUGINiE, or Straight-billed Humming-Birds, 



have the Bill more or less lengthened, slender, and straight ; the lateral margins more or less dilated 

 over the lower mandible ; the Nostrils basal, Avith the opening sometimes concealed by the projecting 

 plumes : the Wings long and pointed : the Tail of various lengths and forms : the Tarsi very short : the 

 Toes more or less long ; the outer toe united at its base ; and the hind toe long, and armed usually with 

 a long claw. 



Mellisuga Briss.* 



Bill of various lengths, straight and slender, with the culmen mostly rounded to the tip, which is 

 acute, the lateral margins partly dilated over the lower mandible ; the nostrils basal, with the opening 

 entirely concealed by the projecting frontal plumes. Wings generally long and pointed, Avith the first 

 quill the longest. Tail more or less lengthened, and of various forms. Tarsi very short, slender, and 

 sometimes covered by plumes. Toes rather long, and slender ; the lateral ones united at the base, 

 especially the outer toe, which is longer than the inner one ; the hind toe long, slender, and armed 

 Avith a long curved claw. 



The species of this genus are dispersed throughout the vast continent of the NeAv World, and the adjacent islands that 

 lie within a short distance of the coast. Some of them even brave the snow of the more northern and southern portions, 

 as well as of the mountainous districts of the interior. The habits of the species vary in different localities; 

 some are peculiar to the lowlands, and others again remain stationary on the mountains ; while there are species that 

 migrate from one to the other at certain seasons of the year. The habits of the North American species having been so 

 admirably noticed by Wilson, I have been led to select from him the following remarks, especially as they are ap- 

 plicable to the species of the whole family. That author informs us that Mellisuga colubris is extremely fond of tubular 

 flowers, before a series of which he poises or suspends himself on wing, for the space of two or three seconds, so steadily 

 that his wings become invisible or only like a mist ; and you can plainly distinguish the pupil of his eye looking round 

 with great quickness and circumspection. When he alights, which is frequently, he always prefers the small dead twigs 

 of a tree or bush, where he dresses and arranges his plumage Avith great dexterity. His only note is a single chirp, not 

 louder than that of a small cricket or grasshopper, generally uttered while passing from flower to floAver, or when en- 

 gaged in fight with his fellows ; for, when two males meet at the same bush or flower, a battle instantly takes place, 

 and the combatants ascend in the air chirping, darting, and circling around each other, till the eye is no longer able to 



* This genus was established by Brisson in 1760. It embraces Cceligena of M. Lesson (1829) ; Les Rubis of M. Lesson (1829), with 

 which CallipMox of M. Boie (1831) and Selasphorus of Mr. Swainson (1831) are coequal ; Lesbia of M. Lesson (1829), with which Cynan- 

 thus of Mr. Swainson (1827) is synonymous; Les Platures of M. Lesson (1829); Heliactin of M. Boie (1831), with which Les Queues 

 etroites of M. Lesson (1829) is equal ; Lophornis of M. Lesson (1829), with which Bellatrix of M. Boie (1831) is synonymous ; Les 

 Sephanoides of M. Lesson (1829) ; Orthorhynchus of Cuvier (1799-1800), with which Les Huppesoi M. Lesson (1829) and Cephallepis 

 of the late Mr. Loddiges (1830) are synonymous. It also includes Dory/era, Metallura, and Cometes of Mr. Gould (1847). 



