TROCHILID.E. 105 



mate. The whole of the back and wing-coverts in the 

 male are deep crimson-red, verging to orange towards 

 the tail, and gradually giving place to bronzed green in 

 the upper tail-coverts. The head is deep violet-black, 

 and from it a broad band passes down the sides of the 

 neck and across the throat, enclosing a large space of the 

 most brilliant golden green, glowing in the centre with 

 the sheen of a toj)az. The general colour of the female is 

 bronzed green. " This species never shows his beauty to 

 the sun. Residing close by the densely-wooded sides of 

 rivers, and dark and lonely creeks, he leaves his retreat 

 before sunrise to feed on insects near the w^ater ; but 

 returns to its shelter as soon as the sun's rays become 

 /powerful, and only comes out again for a short time 

 after sunset. The nest is built on a twig over the 

 water in unfrequented places, of a material that looks 

 like tanned cow-leather. This nest is of a deep cup-like 

 form, with very thin walls, composed, apparently, of 

 a sort of fungus resembling German tinder held together 

 by cobwebs." 



