45 



AMETHYSTINE. 



PLATE V.— FIG. 2. 



Trocliilus ametliystinus. The amethyst is a precious stone of 

 a purplish violet- colour; and when this species is in full 

 plumage it has a patch on the throat almost as rich and lustrous 

 as the gem itself. Indeed, there are three or four species 

 which are so distinguished, and these are generally known as 

 "the Amethysts," and so spoken of, just as people would 

 speak of "the Browns," and "the Smiths," only the Thirds are 

 not nearly so common as the people with those names. Let us 

 introduce our readers to the members of this beautiful little 

 family group. There is the Even- tailed Amethyst, {T. orthura,) 

 the Wedge-tailed Amethyst, (T. montana,) the Little Amethyst, 

 (T. Amethystoides,) and the one above named, which might 

 well be called the Forked-tailed Amethyst. 



These are all birds of remarkably rich plumage and elegant 

 form; golden green is the prevailing tint of the upper parts 

 of the body, with glosses of purple on the head, wings, and 

 tail; underneath they are generally white, more or less clouded 

 with grey, or tinged with red and green; the amethystine 

 patch in all is bordered by a band of pure white, which forms 

 a distinct division between it and the lower part of the breast. 

 These birds vary in size from two inches and a half to three 

 inches; they are found in Mexico, Brazil, Cayenne, Guiana, 

 and other parts of South America. The one figured is per- 

 haps the most elegant of the group; it is nearly related to 

 the Ruby-throated Humming Bird, which naturalists call T. 

 rulineus, and which is a native of the Brazils. 



Tryphcsna is the generic name given by some naturalists to 

 these birds; in all the species the males and females differ con- 

 siderably, the latter having the tail even, or nearly so, and the 

 former much forked, the outer feathers on each side being 

 indented near the tip, so as to form something like a racket- 

 tail. 



