> Just a note on the spelling of the hummingbird's name. If a word ends
> in "s", one has the choice of spelling the possessive depending on how the
> word is pronounced. The operative rule is that the apostrophe does not have
> a sound associated with it. Thus, if one says "Xantus Hummingbird", it
> should be spelled "Xantus' Hummingbird". If one says "Xantuses
> Hummingbird", it should be spelled "Xantus's Hummingbird" with the extra "s"
> after the apostrophe. Likewise, "Ross's Gull" not "Ross' Gull" if you are
> saying "Rosses", and "Harris's Hawk" not "Harris' Hawk", for the same reason.
> The AOU and ABA have adopted Xantus's, Ross's, and Harris's Hawk as the
> correct spellings for these names.

Just as long as Massachusetts doesn't come into play here :-)

Ken.