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VIOLET FORKED-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. 
Trochilus furcatus. — Gmelin. 
Plate XXIII. 
Trochilus furcatus, Gmelin , xxvi. — L'Oiseau-inouclie a queue 
fourchue, Buffon , Planches Enluminees, 672, tig. I.? — Lesser 
forked-tailed Humming-Bird, Latham's General History , 
Variety B Oiscau-mouche violet a queue fourchue, Omismya 
furcata. Lesson , Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-mouches , 
pi. xviii. p. 82. 
This species, one of the oldest known, is common in 
many parts of South America, and possesses a con- 
siderable geographical range, being found in Brasil and 
Guiana, the island of Jamaica, and Cayenne. Not- 
withstanding, the male only is known, and even the 
plumage of the young is not accurately ascertained. 
The bill, of considerable strength, is very slightly 
bent, and of a deep black. The general state of this 
bird is nearly that as figured by Buffon, golden green 
above, with the wings and tail inclining to a violet 
purple, a patch upon the throat of beautiful amethys- 
tine purple, and the under parts pure white, tinged 
VOL. VI. 
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