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Sub-fam. 2. Trochiline, or true Humming Birds. Bill usually long, 
straight, or slightly curved, and very slender; wings long, pointed ; tail 
various, generally truncate, sometimes rounded; tarsi and feet very short 
and weak; toes long and slender. Size small; plumage more or less 
metallic and very beautiful. 
This sub-family contains about one hundred species of humming birds, 
amongst which are some of the most beautiful little birds in existence. 
The mango (Trochilus mango), the swallow-tailed (T. macrourus), the 
emerald (7. glaucopis), the long-tailed Jamaica humming bird (T’. polytmus), 
a magnificent species, the topaz (7. pella), the evening humming bird 
(T. vesper), and many other splendid species belong here. 
They are exclusively restricted to South America and the West Indies, 
except the Mango, which has been found in Mexico and may be classed 
as a North American bird. 
The ruby topaz, T. moschitus (pl. 99, fig. 8), a splendid and common 
species, the magnificent JT. ornatus (pl. 99, fig. 9 a), De Lalande’s hum- 
ming bird, T' delalandit’ (pl. 99, fig. 10), and some others, are common in 
collections. The crested humming bird, 7. cristatus (pl. 99, fig. 12), and 
the smallest humming bird, T. minimus (pl. 99, fig. 11), are more rare. 
The latter is the smallest of all known species. 
Sub-fam. 3. Mellisuyine, or straight-billed Humming Birds. Bill usually 
lengthened, slender, and straight; wings long, pointed; tail various, mostly 
truncate, sometimes with the two middle feathers or the two external 
feathers long; tarsi and feet short and weak. Colors usually very brilliant. 
The species of this sub-family are diffused over the entire tropical and 
temperate regions of America, though the much larger portion of them 
exclusively inhabit the southern countries of this continent. 
The common humming bird, T. colubris (pl. 99, fig. 9”), belongs here, and 
is the only species the history of which is well known. It appears in the 
‘northern part of the United States from the beginning to the middle of 
May, and was observed by Dr. Richardson in the fur countries of the 
north, bordering upon the Arctic circle. The nest is built upon the project- 
ing branch of a tree, and is very artfully constructed and covered with 
moss or with lichens, giving it much the appearance of a knot upon the 
branch where it is located. Within are laid copious quantities of the poppus 
or down of plants, forming a soft and very suitable bed for the reception of 
the diminutive eggs. These are generally two only, and are hatched in 
the short space of ten days. 
One of the most remarkable qualities of this little bird is its great 
pugnacity: the male does not hesitate to attack other birds much larger 
than himself, and has even been known to challenge the king-bird or the 
martin, the latter of which he sometimes compels to retreat. To man this 
bird shows little aversion, quietly hovering around its favorite flowers when 
so nearly approached as almost to be caught in the hand. It frequently 
enters at the windows of houses and is caught. Both old and young are 
soon reconciled to confinement. In a very short time they will feed freely 
upon diluted honey, or sugar and water, and suffer themselves to be 
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