LIKDEN'S HELMET-CEEST, OE BLACK WAEEIOE. 



241 





golden green 

 with 



If the reader ^\'ill again turn to the engraving on page 223, and refer to the bird 

 immediately taeloAv Princess Helena's Coquette, he will see a rather large species of 

 Humming-lDird, which is remarkable for the manner in which the rounded tail-feathers 

 are arranged, and the verj^ long upper tail-coverts. This bird is the Jacobin Humming- 

 bird [Florisuga melllvora), a beautifully coloured species, glowing with boldly contrasted 

 hues of white, blue, green and black. 



It inhabits Cayenne, Guiana, 

 Trinidad, and seems to have 

 rather an extensive range, being 

 found from Cayenne to Peru. It 

 is a very curious species, inhabit- 

 ing broad and fluviatile districts 

 not more than two or three hundred 

 feet from the level of the sea. The 

 colour is very variable, but is 

 generally a light blue upon the 

 head and throat, with a large 

 white crescentic patch passing 

 over the back of the neck. The 

 back, the very long iipper tail- 

 coverts, and a line extending to 

 each side of the neck, are golden 

 green, and the wings are purple- 

 black, edged on the shoulders with 

 The tail is tipped 

 a narrow band of black. 

 Some individuals have a green 

 mark upon the blue of the head, 

 and others are curiously mottled 

 with white and brown. 



There are several species of 

 this geniis, among which may be 

 mentioned the Great Jacobin 

 {Florisuga flahelUfera), a truly 

 beautiful bird, and much larger 

 than the preceding species. It is 

 found in Tobago, in the Orinocos, 

 and other neighbouring localities. 

 It lives mostly in low marsliy 

 situations, chiefly upon planta- 

 tions abroad, and generally feeds 

 while on the wing. Another 

 curious species is the Pied Jacobin 

 {MelUsurja Atm), a bird which is 

 much blacker than either of the 

 preceding. It inhabits the ex- 

 treme-parts of Brazil, from Per- 

 nambuco on the north to Eio Janeiro on the south 

 veiy variable in colouring. 



The Helmet-crests are veiy curious birds, and are at once known by the singular 

 pointed plume which crowns the top of the head, and the long beard-like appendage to the 

 chin. They all live at a very considerable elevation, inhabiting localities of such extreme 

 inclemency that few persons'would think of looking for a Humming-bird m such frozen 

 regions. There are several species of Helmet-crest, and their habits are well described 

 "2. K 



LINDEN'S HELMET-CREST, OR BLACK WARRIOR. 

 O^pigon Lindinii. 



Like the preceding species, it is 



