RACKET-TAILED HDMMING-BIRD. 13? 
The only other species whose tail takes a similar 
form is the 
RACKET-TAILED HUJIMING-BIRD. 
Trochilus platurus Latham. 
Racket-Tailed Humming-Bird, Latham, General History, 
iv., p. 338. — Oiscau-mouche a raquettes. Lesson, Histoirc 
Nalurelle des Oiseaux-mouche, p. xl. 
This bird at first-sight has nearly the resemblance 
of the last, but is at once distinguished from it by 
the unplumed tarsi. It is of a duller green above, 
and is of a uniform tint. The gorget is of the same 
bright emerald green, and occupies nearly a similar 
place, covering the whole of tlie fore part of the 
throat and neck. The belly is of a dull brown, 
tinged with green, and the vent and under-tail co- 
verts are nearly pure white. The tail above, green- 
ish brown, beneath of reddish or yellowish white. 
The feathers, excepting the two outer ones, are 
])ointed, and assume a slightly forked form. The 
two on the outside exceed the others by about half 
their own length, and the shafts commence to be en- 
tirely bare where they exceed the length of the others, 
and are finished by a nearly round tip of black plume 
in the form of a racket-board. 
The plumage of the female is not very well known. 
Guiana is the only country whence they have been 
received. 
