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rN wrR ODUCT ON.

i or "s Therever they could be with
as a reason for not quoting all the names given by the older authors. Whereve y
rtainty determined, they have been quoted under the species to w

modern writers have deemed it necessary to propose will be given in

hich they are believed to refer. The
ce
numerous divisions which more

the proper place.
; i “de ice is or irds, enumerated
Latham, who added little or nothing to the previously recorded notices of this group of birds, é
sixty-five species in his ‘ Index Ornithologicus,
his ‘General History of Birds,’ which appeared in 1822.
termined, as they are so indefinitely described that it is impossible to ascertain

Of these about two-thirds are real species ; the

remainder cannot be de

whether they are species or not.

In 1802 the ‘Oiseaux dorés,’ the great French work of Audebert and Vieillot, was given to the world.

In it, besides figures of all the Jacamars and Promerops then known, were included seventy plates of

ino-Birds. These plates represent species which were then rare, but are now extremely common,
Humming-Birds. 1ese plates rey I
and which, although not so numerous as those contained in the later work of Latham, had the advantage
of being illustrated in a manner which was intended to convey some idea of their brilliancy. In most

instances the species may be recognized; in others they are doubtful. Independently of the illustrations

above-mentioned, these authors attempted to explain the laws which produce the splendid colouring of

certain parts of these beautiful birds, and have given a plate illustrative of their views on the subject.

In 1823 appeared the second part of the ornithological portion of the ‘Tableau Encyclopédique et
Methodique des Trois Regnes de la Nature,’ by Bonnaterre and Vieillot, with an enumeration of ninety-four
species of Humming-Birds, but no additional information as to their habits and manners. A few years later
(between 1829 and 1833) appeared M. Lesson’s well-known works. the ‘Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-
mouches,’ ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Colibris,’ and ‘ Les Trochilidées,—publications which added considerably
to our previous knowledge of the group, although they enumerate no more than 110 species. How little
progress, then, had been made towards an intimate acquaintance with these lovely birds between the date

of the twelfth edition of the ‘Systema Nature.’ and that of the last-named publications, a period of more

than seventy years !

If the illustrious Humboldt paid no very marked attention to the Trochilide, he must have noticed many
of the fine species lately brought to hght ; and it is therefore somewhat surprising that he should have
been so remarkably silent respecting them when writing the ‘ Personal Narrative’ of his travels in the new

world. It is to him and to bis associate Bonpland, however, that I consider we are indebted for our

acquaintance with many of them ; for the perusal of the interesting account of their enterprising travels has
‘ g s has

doubtless created a desire in other ollow i ir footsteps. Thus reedi
: others to follow in their footsteps. Thus succeeding travellers, who have not

been slow to perceive r WC ‘fully different are } i
perceive how wonderfully different are the productions of the great Andean ranges from those

of the other parts of South America, have ever been active in {arming itti 1
pe S rica, have ever been active in forming and transmitting to Kurope collections

in nearly every department of science ; and no objects have been more assiduously sought for than the flying

gems which constantly greeted them at every turn and must have been always before their eyes. Among the
- z 5

a > > i a : .
d Humboldt are D’Orbigny, Schomburgk, Tschudi, Castlenau,
, and others, who, with more recent but less

knowledge of the Trochilide.

most eminent travellers who have succeede
Burmeister
-known explorers, have added so largely to our

yy °O . . it . y a <
Both Frenchmen and Belgians have proceeded to South America to procure

published in 1790, and ninety-five in the third volume of

     
   
   
  
  
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
   
     
   
   
   
   
   
     

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