PRINCESS HELENA'S COQUETTE. 
177 
The Tufted Coquette is one of the rare species of this beautiful genus. 
It seems to be entirely a Continental bird, not being found in any of the West Indian 
Islands, and its principal residence seems to be in Northern Brazil and along the course of the 
Amazon as far as Peru. It may 
be readily known from the 
other species of Coquettes by 
the colors of its head, crest, and 
neck-plumes. The crest and top 
of the head are a rich ruddy 
chestnut, and the upper surface 
of the body is bronze-green, ex- 
cepting the wings, which are 
purple -black, and a broad band 
of white which crosses the lower 
part of the back. From the 
white band to the insertion of 
the tail is bright chestnut. The 
tail is also chestnut, except 
the two central feathers, w T hich 
are green at the latter half of 
their length. The forehead and 
throat are emerald-green, and the 
neck-plumes are snowy white 
tipped with resplendent metallic- 
green. 
The female has no crest nor 
neck-plumes, and the band of 
white across the back is very 
narrow. The total length of the 
bird is about two inches and a 
half. 
Ax other species of this 
remarkable genus is Gould’s 
Coquette (. Lophornis goulclii). This species is remarkable for the beautiful pure white of 
the neck-tufts, and their green tips. When the crest and tufts of this bird are depressed 
they lie closely upon the other feathers, the crest coming to a sharp point upon the back of 
the neck, and the neck-tufts also coming to a point upon the shoulders. This species seems 
to be exclusively continental, and not to be found on any of the West Indian islands. At 
present it is supposed to inhabit the country from the embouchure of the Amazon to its 
sources in Peru. It is a very rare bird. 
The crest of the male is rich chestnut-red, the upper surface is bronze-green, and a band 
of white crosses the lower- part of the back. The forehead and throat are emerald-green. The 
female is comparatively a dull bird, having no crest nor neck-plumes. The length of this 
species is about two and a half inches. 
But the most singular of all the genus, if not the most unique and remarkable of all the 
Humming-birds, is the Princess Helena’s Coquette (. Lopliornis helence). This wonderful 
bird is a native of Vera Paz in Guatemala. 
The curious forked crest and face are green, and the throat is of a metallic effulgent 
emerald in the centre, and surrounded with a series of long narrow white feathers, those which 
start from the neck being longest and generally edged with blue-black, while the others are 
much shorter and of a jetty black. From the back of the head start six long hair-like feathers, 
three on each side. The upper surface of the body is coppery-bronze, and a buff band crosses 
Voi., II.— 88. 
TUFTED COQUETTE.— Lophornis omata. 
