PLATE XXV. 



the plate, for its total length is not above three inches, and its bulk 

 proportionate. The head and upper part of the body, and also 

 the wings above, are green with a golden lustre ; the tail greenish, 

 changeable to testaceous golden brown, and having the inner webs 

 rufous. The throat is of a fine green colour, variable in different 

 lights to a golden hue with a yellow or a brown metallic lustre, and 

 below that the whole of the belly is a rich brown glossed with green 

 and golden. On the head of the male bird is a crest of pointed feathers 

 of an orange or testaceous brown colour, and on each side of the 

 neck a tuft composed of elongated feathers, differing in length, and 

 having the tips of a dark but brilliant green. These feathers the 

 little creature has the power of raising or depressing at pleasure : 

 when these are displayed in full array on each side of the green patch 

 on the front of the neck, and the crest stands erect, which is inva- 

 riably the case when the bird is offended or surprised, the appearance 

 of this bird is altogether remarkable. The female has neither the 

 ruff on the neck nor the crest, and its colours are in general more 

 obscure than in the male. The bill is of a moderate length and 

 straight, the legs very short and the feet diminutive.* 



In the annexed plate this elegant little bird is seen perched upon 

 a tuft of the 



JACQUINIA AURANTI A, the AUSTRALASIAN 

 ORANGE JACQUINIA, 



in blossom ; a plant that inhabits the New Holland and New Zealand, 

 and which flowered in the month of July in the present year, at Kew. 



* A New Zealand specimen of this rare bird, lot 6286, sold for the sum 

 of £2 10s. in the Leverian sale. 



