IIUMMIXa BIEDS. 
13 
bill (21 recurvirostris) , already named, and tlie Topaz. 
Of this last it lias been said that, were all these bril- 
liant bu'ds to dispute the palm, and be observed in 
turn, it Avould be found the most beautiful. The light 
and elegant figure of this bird is something less than 
our Woodpecker. Its length from the tip of the bill 
to the end of the true tail is nearly six inches ; the 
two long feathers exceed this by tivo inches and a 
half. The throat and breast are enriched by a plate 
of great brilliancy. Seen from the side, this colour 
changes into a golden green; seen from above, it 
appears a pure green. A coif of velvety black covers 
the head ; a fillet of the same black encircles the topaz 
plate ; the breast, the side of the neck, and the top of 
the back are of a most beautiful deep purple ; the 
belly is still more rich, by a reflection of scarlet and 
gold ; the shoulders, and the bottom of the back, are 
of a light red. Tlie large feathers of the wing are of 
a violet-brown ; the small feathers are ruddy. The 
coloim of both the superior and inferior covertures of 
the tail is of a golden green; the lateral quill-feathers 
are red, and the two intermediate ones of a purple- 
brown. 
The whole family has been divided into the follow- 
ing genera by Mr. Swainson, viz. — CampTjlopterous : 
having the bill curved; shafts of the quills ddated; 
tail graduated. Lampornis : with the bill straight, or 
very slightly bent ; considerably depressed for its 
whole length, but more especially at the base ; wdngs 
reaching to the end of the tail, which is short and 
even. Trocliilus: having the bill very straight, long, 
cylindrical, or rather broader than high ; tail generally 
