98 RUFF-NECKED OR NOOTKA HUMMING-BIRD 
as the season advances ; because we saw none at 
first, though, near the time of our departure, the na- 
tives brought them to the ships in great numbers.” 
The most accurate description we can insert is 
that fi’om the Northern Zoology. 
“ General tint of the upper plumage rufous or cin- 
namon, which covers the head, ears, neck, back, 
rumps, upper tail, corners, and margins of the tail 
feathers ; the crown and the wing covers, however, 
have a strong coppery greenish gloss, but which does 
not extend to the ears, the upper line above the eye, 
or to that between the eye and bill ; the greater and 
lesser quills, and the middle of the tail feathers, with 
these tips, are all of a pale smoky brown, slightly 
glossed with violet. Under plumage ; the whole of 
the chin and throat is covered with scale-like fea- 
thers of a fine looking colour and lustre, equally bril- 
liant with the throat of T. moschitus, but with more 
of a red and less of an orange gloss ; the tints, how- 
ever, change in almost every direction of light, and 
in all are exquisitely splendid. The middle of the 
breast and vent are nearly pure white, but all the 
sides and the under tail covers are of the same co- 
lour as the back. Legs and feet dark brown. The 
female chiefly differs in being green gold, where the 
male is cinnamon ; the throat being merely spotted 
with the glow'ing ruby colour of the male.” 
According to Dr Latham, “ the female is green 
gold on the upper parts ; instead of cinnamon on the 
throat, are only spots of the glowing ruby colour 
