° lder IL PASSERES. 
Tribe II. Tenuirostres. 
Th e 
third Family, 
TROCHILIDiE, or Humming-Birds, 
hay e tj, j , * 
acute 1 * generally long, slender, straight or curved, with the culmen usually rounded and the tip 
by a ^ ^ le ^eral margins sometimes dilated over the lower mandible ; the Nostrils basal, and covered 
the i Sca ^ e > w hich is sometimes plumose : the Wings generally long, with the first quill usually 
the X 0e , ' Tle ai more or less long, and of various forms : the Tarsi very short, and generally slender : 
Wit], a i 0n "’ s ^ enc ^ er j the lateral toes usually united at their base ; the hind toe moderate, and furnished 
more 
or less lengthened claw. 
The 
first Subfamily, 
GRYPINiE, or Wedge-tailed Humming-Birds, 
HaVe Bill 
heel 6( ] more or less long, slender, and generally curved throughout its length ; with the culmen 
1 clt tllf* 
vphjcr q ^ D ase, and then rounded to the tip, which is acute; the lateral margins dilated, and over- 
Gil i e ^° Wcr mandible ; the nostrils basal, and covered by a scale : the Wings long and pointed : the 
br i 
' ’ °ad, and generally cuneated : the Tarsi short and slender : the Toes long, slender, and 
S ° tae titn,, 
^ eil der n , 1;i| t ec t at their base ; the hind toe more or less long and slender : 
d ^hat of the hind toe 
the anterior Claws long and 
sometimes very small. 
th 
% 
Ver- 
PHiETORNis Swains * 
"y ion 
6 % \\*h' sIi S b tIy curved throughout, with the base broad, and the sides gradually compressed to 
( ]_ e j ^ 18 Ver y acute; the lateral margins dilated, and overlapping the lower mandible; the 
c °Ver e j i C a Tove the nostrils, and then rounded to the end ; the nostrils basal, with the opening 
~ ri §thefl 0( ] ' plumose scale. Wings long and pointed, with the first quill the longest. Tail 
!^lon god Ul P°sed of broad feathers, and cuneated, with the ends of the two middle feathers much 
Tarsi 
at eral 
°ues 
a sh 
ort 
very short, slender, and clothed with feathers. Toes long and very slender, with the 
mited to the middle toe at the base, and equal ; the hind toe short and slender, and armed 
' c ^ aw ; the claws of the fore toes lon°\ curved, and acute. 
O' 7 
The species of this division are found in the warmer parts of South America. 
Mr. Swainson established this genus in 1827- (Zoo/. Journ. 1 827, P- 357-) 
