Black-tailed Hermit (Glaucis melanura), John Gould The bird figured in the accompanying Plate must not be confounded with either of the species I have mentioned in my account of Glaucis hirsutus; it is much smaller than either of them, and moreover has a far greater amount of black colouring in its tail—the extreme base, and that only of the inner webs of the feathers, being marked with chestnut; in fact, when the tail is closed and viewed from beneath, it appears to be entirely black, the under coverts concealing the buff colouring at its base. This illustration has been restored to its original vibrancy by enhancing colors and removing unwanted marks. A monograph of the Trochilidæ, or family of humming-birds was published between 1849 and 1887 by English ornithologist John Gould. This monumental work depicts and describes all the known species of hummingbirds at the time - comprising 418 lithographic plates and information on 537 species."