390 TROCHILUS FORFICATUS- — TROCHILUS GIGAS. 



the crown of the head of a metallic golden green ; while the 

 throat is adorned with a gorget of the most intense purple- 

 blue. It has a superb tail, the two central feathers of which 

 are of a shining metallic green; the two next are black at 

 their base, and rich blue towards their extremities, tipped and 

 edged with bright metallic green, shot with blue. 



But we have not space to describe one-tenth part of those 

 wonderful, bright, and small specimens of the feathered tribe 

 which inhabit the mountains for their entire length. Darwin 

 found one of the species — the Trochilus forficatus — flying 

 about amid the snow-storms in the forests of Tierra del Fuego ; 

 while in the wooded island of Chiloe, which has an extremely 

 humid climate, he saw it skipping from side to side amid the 

 dripping foliage. 



In the same island is found another species, the Trochilus 

 gigas — a very large bird for so delicate a family. When on 

 the wing, it moves from place to place with the most rapid 

 flight ; but whilst hovering over a flower, it flaps its wings 

 with a very slow and powerful movement, totally different 

 from that of the vibratory one common to most of the species 

 which produces the humming noise. When hovering by a 

 flower, its tail is constantly opened and shut like a fan, 

 the body being in a nearly vertical position. This action 

 appears to steady and support the bird between the slow 

 movements of its wings. It feeds chiefly on insects. The 

 note of this species, like that of nearly the whole family, is 

 extremely shrill. 



In Bolivia are found the Bolivian violet - ear, Wan-ell's 

 wood-star, and many others ; but we must bring our descrip- 

 tion of the humming-birds of this region to a conclusion. 



