CEPHALEPIS LODDIGESI, Gould, 



Loddiges' Plover-crest. 



Trockihis Loddigesii, Gould in Proc. of Coram, of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc, part i. p. 12. 



— Less. Les Troch., p. 138. pi. 51.— Jard. Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, vol. ii. p. 57. 



pi. 6. — Less. Ind. Gen. et Syn. du Gen. Trochilus, p. xxx. 



opisthocomus, Licht. Ermann, Verz.von Thier. und Pflanz., p. 6. t. 2. fig. 3. 



Mellisuga Loddigesii, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 114, Mellisuga, sp. 100. 

 Cephalepis loddigesi, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ? Cephalepis, sp. 2. — lb. Consp. Troch. in Rev. et 



Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 256. 



The specific name of Loddigesi was given to this bird by myself in 1830, when characterizing a specimen 

 said to have been sent from Rio Grande. At this distance of time, my memory does not tell me how I 

 became possessed of this fine bird, or what authority I had for the locality in which it was said to have been 

 found ; the specimens I have since received were collected, I believe, in Minas Geraes, but the only point 

 that is certain respecting them is, that they came to me by way of Rio de Janeiro. 



In dedicating this, the first Humming Bird I had the pleasure of describing, to Mr. George Loddiges, I 

 was anxious to pay a just tribute of esteem to an old friend, and to one who was the first to take up the 

 study of the TrochilidcB in a scientific manner. Had his valuable life been spared, no one would have been 

 more delighted than himself with the many beautiful accessions to the group acquired during the last few 

 years. 



The Cephalepis Loddigesi differs in many particulars from the older known C. Delalandi 9 especially in its 

 more lengthened bill, its violet-coloured crest, and the greater amount of white on the tips of the tail- 

 feathers. 



The female, on the other hand, offers so close a resemblance to that of C. Delalandi, as to be scarcely 

 distinguishable. 



The male has the forehead, crown, and shorter feathers of the crest shining lilaceous blue; lengthened 

 crest-plume black; upper surface and wing-coverts bronzy green; wings purplish brown'; central tail- 

 feathers bronzy green, the remainder bronzy green at the base, passing into black near the extremity and 

 tipped with white, the white increasing in extent as the feathers recede from the centre ; behind the eye a 

 small oval patch of white; chin, sides of the neck, flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts brownish grey; centre 

 of the breast and abdomen very dark blue ; bill brownish black. 



The female has the whole of the upper surface bronzy green ; a small patch of white behind the eye ; 

 under surface dull greyish brown ; wings and tail as in the male. 



The Plate represents both sexes of the size of life. 



