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TOPAZ-THROATED HUMJIING-BIRD. 
Trochilus petta Linn^us. 
Plate XXIV—Male. 
Trochilus pella, LinruBUS. — The Topaz-Throated Hum- 
ming-Bird, Shaw's General Zoology, viii. p. 274 — Latham’s 
General History, iv. p. 291. — Le Colihri topaz, Lesson, 
Hisioire Naturelle des Colibris, Pis. ii, iii, iv, v. , 
This species is without any exception one of tlie 
most splendid of the whole race ; the plumage in 
every part is composed of the scaly formed feathers, 
which are always present when a metallic lustre pre- 
vails ; and in every position, its brilliant colours 
receive a variation of tint differing from that last 
seen, and superior in splendour to any thing with 
which we could compare it. It is a large species 
also, and in many ways is a most interesting bird. 
The African form is naturally called to our remem- 
brance by the general appearance of it to the Cyniri- 
dae, in which the shape of the gorget and tail leads 
still nearer. In its habits it is also curious, being 
said to frequent the hanks of rivers, skimming along 
their surface after insects, and often perching on 
dried twigs along their margins : in this there is an 
approximation to several groups. 
