DESCRIPTIONS. 
The following plates, with their descriptions, have 
been made as much as possible from specimens of the 
birds themselves, but when these could not be pro- 
cured, they are taken from those works which could 
be most relied upon for their accuracy. We have 
accordingly availed ourselves generally of Lesson’s 
splendid monograph of this family, and of Temminck’s 
Planches Coloriees. For the plate of the sabre-winged 
humming-bird, we are indebted to Mr Swainson, who 
kindly permitted his beautiful figure, in the first series 
of the Zoological Illustrations, to be copied, and speci- 
mens of the bird itself having since reached us, have 
served for the description. 
The systematic arrangement of this family presents 
considerable difficulties. Mr Swainson has given the 
characters of what he considers the five leading groups, 
and has also formed several subgenera. M. Lesson 
has also instituted several families and genera, and 
we understand that Mr Lodiges, who possesses a col- 
lection unrivaled by any in Europe, has lately been 
engaged in working out their proper arrangement. 
