PRINCESS HELENA'S COQUETTE. 



177 



The Tufted Coquette is one of the rare species of tliis lieautiful genus. 



It seems to be entirely a Continental bird, not being found in any of the West Indian 

 Islands, and its principal residence seems to be in Northern Brazil and along the course of the 

 Amazon as far as Peru. It may 

 be readily known from the 

 other species of Coquettes by 

 the colors of its head, crest, and 

 neck-plumes. The crest and top 

 of the head are a rich ruddy 

 chestnut, and the upper surface 

 of the body is bi'onze-green, ex- 

 cepting the wings, which are 

 purple-black, and a broad band 

 of white wliich crosses the 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 wliite 

 tipped with resplendent metallic- 

 green. 



The female has no crest nor 

 neck-plumes, and the band of 

 white across the back is very 

 narrow. The total length of the 

 bird is about two inches and a 

 half. 



■ 



TUFTED COQUETTE.— iopAornie ornato. 



Another species of this 

 remarkable genus is Gould's 



Coquette i^Lophomis gouldii). This species is remarkable for the beautiful jiure white of 

 the neck-tufts, and their green tips. When the crest and tufts of this bird are dejDressed 

 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 aU the genus, if not the most unique and remarkable of aU the 

 Humming-birds, is the Princess Helena's Coqv-ette. {Lophornis h'elenae). This wonderful 

 bird is a native of Vera Paz in CTiiatemala. 



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 sfx long hair-like feathers, 

 three on each side. The upper surface of the body is coppery-bronze, and a buff band crosses 



Vol. II. -23. 



