Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/79

66 on each side of the equator. Captain King saw one at Tierra del Fuego, sporting in the midst of a snow shower, when the winter had already set in, and the mountains around were covered with snow. Though the species which compose the Family are very much alike in their important characters, yet as they are very numerous, upwards of two hundred species being known, they have been divided into several genera, founded, indeed, on comparatively slight distinctions, as the length and curvature of the beak, the form of the wings, and the greater or less development of the feathers of the tail, and of other parts.

In this genus the beak is of moderate length, slightly curved downward, broad and flattened at the base, and tapering uniformly to the point; the edges of the upper mandible inclosing the lower for the greater part of its length. The tail is forked, but the exterior feather, save one, on each side, is excessively prolonged beyond its fellows.

The Long-tailed Humming-bird (Trochilus polytmus, .) is one of the most elegant of this lovely race. Its coral-beak, its double crest of black velvet, its golden back, its ample gorget of scaly plumage, now black, now olive, and now suddenly flashing with the hue of the emerald, and its lengthened tail-plumes of raven-purple,—conspire to give it a pre-eminence in beauty, over many which are adorned with more showy and more varied hues. It is peculiar to Jamaica, but there it is very common, especially in the recluse mountain-gorges of that magnificent island.