SNOW-CAP HUMMING-BIRD. 385 



HELIANGELUS CLARISSA. 



Another sun-angel, the Heliangelus Clarissre, has a deep 

 ruby crimson gorget. 



SNOW-CAP HUMMING-BIRD. 



In New Granada is also found the curious little snow-cap 

 humming-bird, one of the most rare of the Trochilidse. It is 

 of a brown colour, with a coppery hue, in which, in certain 

 lights, a purple reflection can be perceived. The crown of 

 the head and the tip of the tail-feathers are of a dazzling 

 white. 



Mr. Gould describes one he saw perched on a twig, plum- 

 ing its feathers. At first he was doubtful whether so small 

 an object could be a bird. It was standing over a pool of 

 Avater. " At first the little creature would poise itself about 

 three feet or so above the water, and then, as quick as thought, 

 dive downwards, so as to dip its miniature head in the placid 

 pool. Then up again it would fly to its original position, as 

 quickly as it had descended. These movements of darting 

 up and down it repeated in rapid succession, producing a 

 wonderful disturbance of the surface of the water for so 

 diminutive a creature. After a considerable number of dips 

 it alighted on a twig near at hand, and commenced pluming 



its feathers." 



SPANGLED COQUETTE. 



The spangled coquette, like all of its genus, possesses a 

 well-defined crest on the head, and a number of feathers pro- 

 jecting from the neck. This singular crest it can raise or 

 depress at will, producing a curious effect in the appearance 

 of the little bird. When depressed, the crest lies ilaf, and 



(379) 25 



