GENERA AND SPECIES. 189 



but we have no positive information relative to 

 the habits of any given species. 



G-emis OXYPOGON, Gould. (Mellisuga, in part, 

 Gray.) 



The birds of this genus are termed "Warriors, 

 or Helmet-crests, and are at once remarkable 

 for the long pointed plume which sweeps over 

 the head, and the elongated feathers of the 

 throat, which advance before the chest like a 

 long dagger-like beard. 



Beak short and sharp, a dark frontal mark ; 

 the head being ornamented with a peaked crest 

 of long slender feathers, those of the centre 

 being white, the outer ones black ; black being 

 also the colour of the sides of the face and neck ; 

 the throat is furnished with long white feathers, 

 more or less spotted on the chin, or tinged with 

 green ; wings moderate ; tail ample and even ; 

 or somewhat forked when closed ; the shafts of 

 the outer tail-feathers white ; general plumage 

 dusky ; feet, strong. The females are very plain, 

 with little or no crest, or long pendant throat 

 feathers ; the chest is spotted. In our notes, 

 taken while investigating Mr. Grould's cabinet, 

 we observe, it is possible that these almost 

 crestless specimens may be young males ; a doubt 

 therefore exists as to the crests of the females. 



The types of this genus, which contain but 

 very few species, are the Ornismya (Oxypogon) 

 Guerini, Boiss : see G-ould in Monagr. Trochil. 



