HUMMING-BIRDS. 449 



The species of the genus Loplwrnis are also small birds, with a highly ornamented 

 plumage, and have elongated feathers with metallic tips, springing from the sides of 

 the neck. Some also are adorned with crests, and all save two have metallic throats. 

 There are nine known species of this genus, and they bear the common name of 'Co- 

 quettes.' They are found in Central America, Trinidad, and northern and western 

 South America. The most beautiful of these birds, if one can discriminate where all 

 possess so many attractions, is probably L. lielence, from Mexico, Gautemala, and Costa 

 Rica. Beside a dark metallic green crest, there are three long, slender, greenish-black 

 feathers springing from either side of the occiput. The throat is metallic green sur- 

 rounded with black, the feathers on the sides of the neck elongated and streaked with 

 buff. Another beautiful but very differently colored species is L. ornatus, from Trin- 

 idad, Venezuela, and Guiana, It has the forehead and throat metallic green, rest of 

 head and crest chestnut, unspotted. On either side of the neck is a series of length- 

 ened graduated feathers, each one tipped with metallic green. This bird seeks its 

 food from the flowers in more open parts of the country than in forests, and builds a 

 round, cup-shaped nest, composed of some cottony material, bound together with cob- 

 webs, and decorated externally with mosses, lichens, etc. 



Tilmatura contains only one species, with a remarkably-colored forked tail. This 

 has the median rectrices short, and shining green ; next one, dark brown ; next, also, 

 dark brown, but with a white spot on inner web, and a white tip ; the remainder is 

 dark brown at base, then a band of rufous, then one of white, succeeded by another 

 of dark brown, and the tips white. This bird is a native of Guatemala, frequents the 

 gardens and other places where flowers abound, and builds a beautiful little round 

 nest of vegetable fibres and thistle-down, thickly covered externally with small pieces 

 of lichens, attached by means of cobwebs. It is fastened to any small branch, such as 

 that of a rose-ti'ee, etc. 



Chcetocercus, Acestrura, and Calothorax are represented by species, some of which 

 are among the most minute in the Trochilidaj. They have very peculiarly shaped 

 tails. Those of the members of the first genus have the median rectrices extremely 

 short ; two next the outermost ones lengthened, equal and uniform ; outermost one 

 half the length of the one next it, filiform and stiff, graduating to a point. Acestrura 

 has the two outer rectrices almost bare of webs, and spine-shape ; while the species of 

 Calothorax has the outermost rectrix of a similar shape. There are about nine spe- 

 cies in these genera, natives of Mexico and the northern and western side of South 

 America. C'hcetocercus bombus, two and a half inches in length, is not much larger 

 than a honey-bee. It is a native of Ecuador and Peru, dwells at an elevation of from 

 five to nine thousand feet, flies in a straight line but not so rapidly as some other hum- 

 ming-birds, and when perched on a branch elevates and depresses the tail as if balanc- 

 ing itself. The males have frequent combats, and sometimes one will mount upwards 

 until its tiny body has completely disappeared from sight. 



Heliactin, Avith its single species, cornutus, is an aberrant form among the Tro- 

 chilidas, and is chiefly noticeable for the brilliant tufts or 'horns' on each side of the 

 head. It is a native of Brazil, and, although long since described, very little is known 

 of its habits. The 'tufts' are fiery crimson at base, changing to greenish yellow at 

 the tips, very brilliant in color, and a great ornament to the bird. 



We now come to a section of the Trochilidae composed of the genera Stellula^ At- 

 this, Catharma, Selasphorus, Calypte, and Trochilus. They are all birds of moderate 

 or small size, all with brilliant metallic coloring on their throats, this sometimes ex- 

 VOL. iv. 29 



