RUFFED AND TUFTED HUMMING-BIRDS. 239 



and here are long narrow feathers, that form a 

 collar or breastplate of green against the blue. 



The tail-feathers are broad and expanded, and 

 of a metallic green. It is difficult to imagine 

 such a rare and sumptuous creature, even in this 

 land of beauty. 



There is a Humming-Bird, also in Brazil, called 

 the Tufted-necked Humming-Bird. It wears a 

 large crest of clear chestnut, and the sides of the 

 neck are adorned with tufts of narrow feathers. 

 The tufts or plumes are of the same colour as the 

 crest, and end in a tip of shining green. The 

 throat and the upper part of the breast, and also 

 the forehead, are covered with scale-like feathers of 

 a brilliant green. The back is of a bronzed green 

 shaded with blue, and separated from the tail- 

 feathers by a band or stripe of white. 



The tail is broad, and spreads out in a fan-like 

 shape ; and is green and chestnut, with shades of 

 purple. 



These exquisite little birds with the tufts and 

 ruffs I have just described, are called by the 

 French "Coquettes." This is a playful idea sug- 



