124 
RECURVED-BILLED HUMMING-BIRD. 
Trochilus recurvirostris Swa inson. 
Plate III. Youno. 
Recurved-billcd Humming-bird, Swainson , Zoological Illustra- 
tions, 1st series, pi. cv. — Oiseau-mouclie a bee recourbe, Orais- 
:u ya recurvirostris, Lesson, Histoire Nalurelle des Oiseattx- 
mouches, pi. xxxvii. p. 129, and Supplement, pi. xxxiv. p. 1G6. 
It has been asserted by some ornithologists, that 
the curvature of the bill in these birds was an acci- 
dental formation, or received in transportation, from 
the position in which the specimen was laid. This 
was maintained as long as Mr Swainson’s specimen 
was the only one generally known ; but we have al- 
ready mentioned two with the same formation, and 
Lesson says, that he has seen six or seven individuals 
having the upward bend; there can be no doubt, 
therefore, that it is a peculiarity of structure which 
will have its use in the economy of the species. 
The specimen used for this figure, had not quite 
attained the complete plumage. The length was 
about three inches and three lines, that of the bill 
about nine lines; the latter is black, strong, much 
bent, and ending in a fine depressed point. The 
