LOPHORNIS REGIN^, oouid. 



Spang^led Coquette. 



Lophornis Reginte, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part xv, p. 95. 



MelUsuga regince^ Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol, i. p. 113, Mellisuga, sp. 92 



Lophornis i^eginae,, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 84, Lophornis^ sp. 8. 



regiKKB, lb. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 257. 



Bellatrix Reginae^ Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 12. 



As I had frequently been Informed of the existence of a species oi Lophornis with a crest, which, when out- 

 spread, resembled the tail of a Peacock, it was with no ordinary sensations of pleasure I first beheld the 

 lovely little bird here depicted; specimens of which arrived in Europe for the first time in the year 1847, 

 through the instrumentality of M. Linden of Brussels, who received it direct from his brother, at that 

 time travelling in the province of Antioquia in Columbia. Since that period several other examples have 

 been received from the same source, and from the neighbouring countries ; the native locality of this 

 beautiful species is therefore placed beyond doubt. 



The Lophornis Regince difl^ers from every other known member of the genus in its large, round, and 

 well-defined crest, each feather of which is surmounted by a ball-like, dark bronzy-green tip, which must 

 render the bird a most conspicuous and pleasing object when the feathers are fully displayed. 



The sexes exhibit the usual diflference, the female being entirely destitute of the fine crest and rich 

 colouring of the male. 



I regret to add that no information has reached us respecting the habits and manners. 



The male has the crown of the head and crest bright rusty red, each feather with a beautiful dark bronzy- 

 green spot at the tip ; lores, throat and sides of the neck luminous metallic green, beneath which is a patch 

 of white lanceolate feathers ; back of the neck and upper part of the back shining green ; lower part of the 

 back, rump, and upper tail-coverts bronzy brown ; rump crossed by a narrow band of white ; tail chestnut- 

 brown, the tips and margins of the external feathers rich bronzy green; wings purplish brown; abdomen 

 light metallic green ; bill fleshy at the base, dark brown at the tip ; feet brown. 



The female has the forehead and crown deep buff; upper surface and wing-coverts bronzy green ; lower 

 part of the back dark or blackish brown, crossed by a band of white ; wings purplish brown ; tail buflf, 

 crossed towards the apex by a broad dusky semicircular band; throat dusky; under surface bronzy green. 



The figures are of the natural size. 



