52 



MANGO. 



PLATE VIII. — FIG. 2. 



_ Trochilus^ mango, so called, probably, because it frequents a 

 kind of fruit-tree, named the mango, which abounds in the East 

 and "West Indies, all through the latter of which Islands this 

 species is very common. It is also found in Brazil and Guiana, 

 and other parts of South America. It is a hardy bird, and has 

 been brought alive to this country. Many descriptions have been 

 given of it under various names, owing to the difference in the 

 appearance in the young and old birds. When fully grown its 

 length is about four inches and a quarter; the head, neck, fore 

 part of the back, and sides, are of a golden green, with bright 

 reflections playing about the crown and forehead; from the chin 

 to the hinder part near the tail runs a stripe of rich velvety 

 black, which is shaded off into slaty blue, that spreads over the 

 throat, and up the sides of the breast and belly; there is a broad 

 band of white passing round the body just above the insertion 

 of the tail, the feathers of which are very broad and round at 

 the tips; on the outer sides these feathers are golden green with 

 blue reflections, and beneath they are violet or purple, according 

 to the light in which they are viewed; they are also tipped and 

 edged with deeper shades of the same colours-; the bill is long 

 and slightly curved downwards. The young, which are variously 

 alluded to as Trochilus margaritaceus, or pearly; gularis, or green- 

 throated; and maculatus, or spotted, have more white about the 

 ixnder parts, and less of the deep rich violet colouring which gives 

 to the adult, that is, grown birds, so splendid an appearance. 



The Negroes of St. Domingo call this the Doctor Bird, on 

 account of the dark shades which prevail in its plumage 

 offering a strong contrast to the gayer and more brilliant Tro- 

 chilida, with which they were acquainted. 



The following passages illustrative of the habits of this species 

 are from Mr. Gosse's splendid work on the Birds of Jamaica: — 

 "It affects the lowlands in preference to the mountains, and open 

 places rather than the deep woods; yet it is rarely seen to suck 

 the blossoms of herbs or shrubs, as Trochilus hnmilus does, but, 

 like Polytmus, (Long-tailed Humming Bird,) hovers around 



