178 
HALF-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD. 
Nevertheless, and without any disparagement to the 
accuracy of these high authorities, we feel great curi- 
osity to examine specimens of this bird. If the con- 
struction of the tail proves as has been mentioned, it 
will not only prove a singular tail among its own 
large family, but will be the only known bird which 
has only six tail feathers. 
This little species is of a slender make ; above, of a 
golden green, and the belly and vent are of the same 
colours. The throat and upper part of the breast is 
covered with a scaly patch of rich purple, and succeed- 
ing this, bands of white and yellow fill up the space 
between the gorget and green of the belly, stretching 
over upon the back in a crescent form. The tail, as 
we have mentioned, consists of six feathers of a pur- 
plish brown, the outer pair very short, the others 
lengthened, forming a fork of nearly two inches, almost 
two-thirds of the length of the body, which widens, or 
curves outward at the extremity. 
Vieillot says that it inhabits Brasil, M. Temminck 
the island of Trinite. 
