LOPHORNIS REGULUS, Gould. 



Great-Crested Coquette. 



Trochihis {Lophomis) regulus^ Gould in Proc. of Zool Soc, part xiv. p. 89. 

 Mellisuga regidus. Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 113, Mellisuga, sp. 91 

 Lophomis reguhis, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 84, Lophornis, sp. 7. 

 Ornysmia [Lophorinus) DeLattrei, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 19? 



For our knowledge of this fine species oi Lophomis we are indebted to Mr. Bridges of Valparaiso, who found 

 it at Moscosa, on the banks of the river Paracti near Espiritu Santo, and in the Yungas of Cochabamba in 

 Bolivia. It differs from all its congeners yet discovered in its larger size and niore lengthened and fuller 

 crest, the feathers of which are very pointed and surmounted by an extremely small dot of dark bronzy green. 

 A smaller bird of this form received from Peru, although nearly allied to the one here represented, is, I 

 believe, specifically diflferent, as its crest is of a more truncate form, and has each feather terminated with a 

 large spatule of dark bronze. I have also received several specimens which appear to me to belong to a 

 third species ; these, which were sent from Bogota, are of a still smaller size, and have the crest-feathers 

 more filiform or hair-like, and scarcely a trace of spatule or spot on the tip. Time and future research 

 are necessary to determine with certainty the specific value of the birds in question, — that is, if they be all 

 varieties of one and the same bird, or if they constitute three distinct species : my own opinion inclines 

 to the latter view, and I moreover believe that the great Andean range is not only the native country 

 of three very distinct species of this beautiful form, but that it will be found to be the head-quarters of the 

 genus, and that even more species may yet be expected from the temperate parts of that rich region. 



A single example of a species of Lophomis, brought to Europe by M. De Lattre, was named after 

 him by M. Lesson ; I have not yet, however, been able to find the original specimen from which that 

 naturalist took his description, consequently I have had no opportunity of instituting a comparison of his 

 L. DeLattrei with the examples contained in my own collection, and I am therefore unable to say to Avhich 

 of the birds above mentioned it is referable. I have no doubt, however, of its being dififerent from the 

 bird here represented, which, so far as I am aware, is strictly confined to Bolivia. 



The male has the crown of the head and crest bright rusty red, the feathers of the crest being much 

 lengthened, carried to a point, and tipped with a minute spot of dark green ; throat and breast luminous 

 green, beneath which is a series of white lanceolate feathers ; the slightly elongated feathers on the sides of 

 the neck rufous, tipped with shining green ; back and abdomen bronzy green ; rump bronzy brown, crossed by 

 a band of white ; tail chestnut-brown, each feather margined externally with bronzy green ; wings purplish 

 brown ; bill light brown, darker at the tip. 



The female has the face and crown deep buflf ; throat whitish ; upper and under surface, and wing-coverts 

 bronzy ; wings purplish brown ; rump dark brown crossed by a band of white ; tail bronzy green at the 

 base, crossed by a broad dusky band, and the lateral feathers tipped with buflf. 



The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size. The plant is the Gesneria elliptica. 



