330 RUBY-CRESTED HUMMING-BIRD. 



throat and forepart of the neck is of the most 

 brilliant golden topaz-colour, shining, like the crest, 

 with a metallic lustre, according to the direction 

 of the light : the wings are purplish chesnut-brown, 

 and the tail purple-ferruginous, slightly tipped with 

 black: on each side the lower part of the abdomen 

 is usually a white spot : the bill and legs are black. 

 The female is said to have only a slight cast of 

 topaz-colour on the throat, and to have the re- 

 mainder of the under parts of a greyish white 

 colour. The young males are brown above, with 

 a few red specks on the head, and a few gold* 

 coloured ones on the throat. Native of South- 

 America, and particularly of Brazil, Guiana, and 

 Surinam. 



VAR.? 



RUBY-CRESTED HUMMING-BIRD. 



This is so nearly allied to the immediately pre- 

 ceding, as to leave it doubtful whether it should 

 be considered as truly distinct. It is thus de- 

 scribed by the accurate Edwards, " Its bill is 

 long, slender, a very little bowed downwards, and 

 of a dusky or black colour: the tongue is divided 

 into small filaments, as in the whole genus : the 

 crest or crown is of an exceeding fine red or 

 flame-colour, having the lustre of a ruby: the 

 throat is like burnished gold, changing in some 

 positions to the light, to an emerald-green : these 

 shining colours in other positions are quite ob- 



