142 TOPAZ-THROATED HUMMING- BIRD. 
Tlie length of this bird, not including the long 
centre tail feather s, is five inches and a half, these ex- 
ceed the others by nearly three inches ; the colours 
of the whole plumage of the body may be said to be 
a rich brownish orange, in some lights appearing of 
the deepest lake, and in others of a brilliant ruby 
colour, tinted with golden ; on the lower surface the 
golden lustre is moat prevalent, above, the deep shade 
and ruby tint; the gorget is alternately of a topaz- 
ynllow or emerald green, and it is surrounded by a 
shade of nearly velvet black, which gradually assumes 
a purple tint, and shades into the colour of the 
body ; the wings are very long and powerful ; the tail 
is above of a golden green shaded with red, below 
of a bright chestnut ; in form it is rather rounded, and 
the two centre feathers make it appear sometimes 
very lengthened, sometimes forked, according to their 
])osition ; the tarsi are feathered to the division of the 
toes. 
The. young differ in wanting the long feathers in 
the tail, the two centre plumes of which exceed the 
others by about one-eighth of an inch ; the plumage 
of the upper parts is of a bright green, with the ruby 
tintsappearing at intervals ; the under part has more 
of the red colour, and is shaded with green and bright 
orange ; the gorget has not appeared, though the 
space for it is clearly seen. 
The female is somewhat less than the young males ; 
the centre tail feathers are slightly longer; the prevail- 
ing colour of the plumage is brilliant emerald green. 
