170 
HERR AN’ 8 THORNBILL. 
are ir* constant motion, waving gently in tlie air, crossing each otbe? 7 opening and closing in 
the most graceful manner. But when the bird darts off with its peculiar arrowy flight, the 
tail-feathers lie straight behind it. 
The male of this species is bronze-green upon the greater part of the body, the green taking 
a richer and redder hue upon the upper tail-coverts. The throat and breast are brilliant emerald- 
green. The wings are purple- 
brown, and the tail is brown, 
with the exception of the rack- 
ets, which are black “shot” 
with green. The feet are yellow, 
and upon the legs are placed 
two beautiful white puffs. The 
whole length of the bird is 
rather more than three inches. 
The female bird does not pos- 
sess the racket-shaped tail- 
feathers, and is of a bronze- 
green upon the upper surface. 
The tail is brown, with the 
exception of the two middle 
feathers, which are bronze- 
green like the body. The two 
exterior feathers are tipped 
with white, and the others with 
bronze-green. The under sur- 
face is white, diversified with 
bronze-green spots on the breast 
and flanks. The puffs are 
smaller than in the male. 
There are several species 
belonging to this genus, among 
which may be mentioned the 
Peruvian Racket-tail, a 
bird which may be distin- 
guished by the rusty-red color 
of the leg-muffs. 
The Columbian Tiiornbill is an inhabitant of Santa Fe de Bogota, and is remarkable 
for its adherence to the more temperate regions of that locality. It never seems to ascend to 
the hills, but prefers remaining in the plains or in some of the valleys where it can find the 
greatest abundance of food. It appears not to frequent the tops of trees, as is often the 
case with Humming-birds, but contents itself with the low flowering shrubs of the plains 
and valleys. The color of this bird is golden-green on the upper parts, changing into a 
warmer hue on the upper tail-coverts. Below, it is dull green, with the exception of a 
remarkable tuft or beard which hangs from the chin, and which is light green towards its 
base and purple-red towards its extremity. The wings are purple-brown, the tail brown 
with a bronze gloss, and the under tail-coverts brown-yellow. The female resembles the male, 
but has not the flame-like mark on the throat. The total length of this species is between 
five and six inches. 
Thebe are several species of Thornhills, among which may be noticed Herr ax’ s Thorn- 
bill ( RTiamphomicron herr&ni), a bird which is remarkable for its broad purple tail and the 
snowy white tips of the three exterior feathers. All the thornbills possess the curious beard- 
like appendage to the chin. 
