THE SPARKLING-TAIL HUMMING-BIRD 247 



lower part of the back. From the white band to the insertion of the tail is bright 

 chestnut. The tail is also chestnut, except the two central feathers, which are green at 

 the latter half of their length. The forehead and throat are emerald green, and the 

 neck-plumes are snowy white tipped with resplendent metallic green. 



The female has no crest nor neck-plumes, and the band of white across the back is 

 verjr narrow. The total length of the bird is about two inches and a half. 



Anothee species of this remarkable genus is depicted upon the engraving on page 223, 

 where it occupies the bottom left-hand corner. This is Gould's Coquette {Lophornis 

 Gould! i), a species which is remarkable for the beautiful pure white of the neck- tufts, and 

 their green tips. A\lieu the crest and tufts of this bird are depressed they lie closely upon 

 the other feathers, the crest coming to a sharp point upon the back of the neck, and the 

 neck- tufts also coming to a point upon the shoulders. This species seems to be exclusively 

 continental, and not to be found on any of the West Indian islands. At present it is 

 supposed to inhabit the country from the embouchure of the Amazon to its sources in Peru. 

 It is a very rare bird. 



The crest of the male is rich chestnut-red, the upper surface is bronze-green, and a band 

 of white crosses the lower part of the back. The forehead and throat are emerald-green. 

 The female is comparatively a dull bird, having no crest nor neck-plumes. The length of 

 this species is about two and a half inches. 



But the most singular of all the genus, if not the most unique and remarkable of all 

 the Humming-birds, is the Peincess'Helena's Coquette [Lophornis Helenoi), which is 

 figured on the top right-hand corner of the engraving on page 223. This wonderful bird is 

 a native of Vera Paz in Guatemala, 



The curious forked crest and face are green, and the throat is of a metallic effulgent 

 emerald in the centre, and surrounded with a series of long narrow white feathers, those 

 which start from the neck being longest and generally edged with blue-black, while the 

 others are much shorter and of a jetty black. From the back of the head start six long 

 hair-like feathers, three on each side. The upper surface of the body is coppeiy-bronze, 

 and a buff band crosses the lower end of the back. The female is quite an ordinary little 

 bird, without crest, neck-plumes, or long hair-feathers, and is generally of a dull bronze- 

 green colour, and greyish-white below, sprinkled with green. 



There are many species of Violet-eaeed Humming-birds, all of which are easily 

 recognised by means of the patch of violet feathers which is placed on each side of the 

 face. 



The Bolivia Yiolet-eae inhabits the countiy from which it derives its popular title, 

 and is one of the migratory birds, passing over a considerable tract of territory in the 

 course of its travels. The localities which it most prefers are the valleys and low grounds 

 where maize is cultivated, and in such situations it is very plentiful. Tha character of the 

 species is eminently pugnacious, and it will not permit any other bird to approach its 

 dominions. It is a very pretty bird : the general colour of the upper parts of the body is 

 golden green, a tint which extends to the two central feathers of the tail ; the remainder of 

 the tail is deep blue-green. The throat and breast are shining green, and the chin, 

 abdomen, and a patch above the eye, are deep blue. The length of the bird is rather more 

 than three inches. 



The lovely little Spaekling-tail is an inhabitant of Mexico, and is found very plenti- 

 fidly in Guatemala, where it is remarkably familiar and visits the habitations of mankind 

 without any reluctance, haunting every garden wherein are blooming flowers, and altogether 

 displaying a wonderful amount of confidence. The nest of this species is very tiny, rounded 

 and beautifully woven from various delicate fibres, cottony down, and spiders' M^ebs, and 

 is covered externally with lichens applied in a very artistic manner. In this nest are laid 

 two eggs, hardly bigger than peas, of a delicate semi-transparent pearly white, and 

 reminding the observer of the eggs of the common snail. The nest is always stuck upon 



