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The Descent of Man

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ald, "and <strong>of</strong> a rich cobalt blue, crossed by several<br />

lines <strong>of</strong> black velvety feathers." (74. Wallace,<br />

'<strong>The</strong> Malay Archipelago,' vol. ii. 1869, p.<br />

405.)<br />

[Fig. 48. Lophornis ornatus, male and female<br />

(from Brehm).<br />

Fig. 49. Spathura underwoodi, male and female<br />

(from Brehm).]<br />

Male humming-birds (Figs. 48 and 49) almost<br />

vie with birds <strong>of</strong> paradise in their beauty, as<br />

every one will admit who has seen Mr. Gould's<br />

splendid volumes, or his rich collection. It is<br />

very remarkable in how many different ways<br />

these birds are ornamented. Almost every part<br />

<strong>of</strong> their plumage has been taken advantage <strong>of</strong>,<br />

and modified; and the modifications have been<br />

carried, as Mr. Gould shewed me, to a wonderful<br />

extreme in some species belonging to nearly<br />

every sub-group. Such cases are curiously like<br />

those which we see in our fancy breeds, reared

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