File:Zoological illustrations, or, Original figures and descriptions of new, rare, or interesting animals - selected chiefly from the classes of ornithology, entomology, and conchology, and arranged on the (14595291240).jpg

Identifier: zoologicalillust02swai (find matches)
Title: Zoological illustrations, or, Original figures and descriptions of new, rare, or interesting animals : selected chiefly from the classes of ornithology, entomology, and conchology, and arranged on the principles of Cuvier and other modern zoologists
Year: 1820 (1820s)
Authors: Swainson, William, 1789-1855 Dall, William Healey, 1845-1927, former owner. DSI
Subjects: Zoology
Publisher: London : Printed by R. and A. Taylor for Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy and W. Wood
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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Text Appearing Before Image:
. Like the resplendent jewels of the earth, the HummingBirds are the living gems of the air. United to the mostdelicate form, these fairies of creation have the dazzling efful-gence of every tint that sparkles from the ruby, the topaz,the sapphire, and the emerald, lavished on their plumage ; theyseem created but for our admiration, to sport in the ardentbeams of a tropical sun, and to feast on the nectar of thesweetest blossoms; and, like sparks of many coloured fire,they shoot from flower to flower, exulting in their little lifeof brightness and pleasure. To return, however, to that now before us, it should beobserved, that it is the only species whose plumage does notin any way accord with that of the rest of its brethi-en. Noauthor appears to have described it, although I met with itvery frequently in Brazil: a specimen in the British Museumhas the ears reddish brown, but this seldom occurs. Tlie figureis of the size of life. All the species are natives of tropicalAmerica. PI. 82.
Text Appearing After Image:
^ S3 TROCHILUS talcatus,Sickle-winged Humming Bird, Generic Character.—See PI. 82. Specific Character. T. viriilii, giild pectoreqiie vitidc candeis ; corpore unoque ccerulcn-xiridibus; rectricibus paribus, rufo-cinnamominis ; remigibus ex(<.-rioribus falcatis, scapis ddatato coinpressis. Green ; throat and breast shining blue ; body and vent bUie green ;tail even, rufous cinnamon ; exterior quills falcated, the shaft;dilated and compressed. JNoTHiNG can exceed the dazzling brilliancy of coloursunited in this little creature. It is, however, more remark-able from the extraordinary construction of its wings, tl::•outer quills of which are greatly curved, and the shafts d -lated to a most disproportionate size ; a similar structure occurs also in the Broad-shafted H. B. of Dr. Shaw, (7. laL-pennu.) That it is intended to fulfd some important office \\\their economy, will admit of no doubt, for in wisdom are n.things made; conjecture must, however, in numberless ir.-stances, suppl

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