68 
HUMMING-BIRDS. 
these fi ail and shining beings. In the present vo- 
lume we have given descriptions of most of the birds 
which have been satisfactorily established, and trust 
that the young Ornithologist tvill thus be enabled to 
determine the greater number of those which may 
come under his observation ; these, as far as pos- 
sible, follow a plate somewhat representing the par- 
ticular form. At the conclusion, we have given a 
condensed Synopsis of the species, mentioning with 
each the modem genus in which it has been placed. 
An arrangement of the genera is not now attempt- 
ed ; for it is not yet very clearly established how these 
genera should stand, even by those who have had op- 
portunities of seeing the greater part of the family to- 
gether — and we are not surprised at this, when we 
look at the almost infinite variety of form which is as- 
sumed among them. They will one day constitute a 
most useful illustration of the natural system, strik- 
ingly representing forms in the other divisions of the 
great class to which they belong. 
When alluding to the splendid plumage and singu- 
lar feathered appendages of the males, we did not 
mention that we conceived it peculiar to the season 
of incubation. In many of those which are described 
as the young, before the brilliant plumage has been 
attained, we consider that it is from the difference of 
season, not of age, that this takes place ; and instead 
of being called the adult plumage, it should rather 
obtain the name of the nuptial dress. W^e believe 
a change takes place in the plumage of idl birds 
