98 
Synopsis of the Birds 
divided into two filaments from the middle to the tip. Feet 
very short ; tarsus slender, shorter than the middle toe, gene- 
rally more or less feathered ; fore toes almost entirely divided; 
hind toe somewhat larger than the middle one : nails short, 
much incurved and retractile, compressed, acute ; hind one 
often shorter than the others. Wings very long, acute ; first 
primary falcate, longest, the others regularly decreasing. 
Tail almost always composed of ten feathers. 
Differ considerably in appearance according to age, sex, 
and season. Colours exceedingly brilliant, like those of 
metals and precious stones. 
Solitary. Flight extremely rapid; whilst feeding remain 
stationary in the air, by means of the horizontal motion of 
their wings. Produce a humming sound in flight. Walk 
with difficulty ; alight and sleep only on large limbs. Nest 
attached to a branch or a leaf, hemispherical or conic, lined 
with down, and covered externally with lichen ; eggs two, 
whitish. 
Peculiar to America ; almost exclusively tropical. 
SUBGENUS MELLISUGA. 
Mellisuga , Briss . Orthorhyncus , Lacepede. 
Bill straight. 
155. Trochilus colubris, L. Golden-green ; tail forked, 
black ; three outer tail feathers ferruginous-white at tip. 
Male, throat ruby. Female and young, throat whitish. 
Humming-bird, Trochilus calnbris, Wils. Am, Orn. ii. p. 26. 
pi. 10 . fig. 3. male. fig. a* female. 
Inhabits the United States in summer ; winters in Mexico, 
the West Indies and South America : common. 
FAMILY XIII. iEGITHALI. 
Passerini, Canori, III. Dentirostres, Conirostres , Cuv.Latr. 
JEgithali, Antriades , Vieill . Egitali, Ranz. 
Orders Granivores , Insectivores , Temm. 
