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THE A VOCET HUMMING-BIRD , 
eye in its breadth, and terminated with a small tuft of violet-bine ; below the black runs a 
luminous green line. The under parts of the body are snowy white. 
CAYENNE FAIRY . — Ueliotkrix aurita. 
The very beautiful bird which has been appropriately named the Sun-gem inhabits the 
mountain ranges of Brazil, especially those of Minas Geraes, where it seems, as Mr. Gould 
poetically remarks, to be a veritable gem sprang out of the mountain and suddenly gifted 
with life. It may generally be found in the open country in nursery grounds, where it finds 
abundance of the small flowers on which it feeds. During the rainy season it resorts to the 
forest, and finds its nourishment in the orchidaceous plants which flourish there in such rich 
profusion. 
The male bird is remarkable for a very conspicuous crest, which starts from either side 
of the head, and has gained for the bird the title of Double-crested Humming-bird. The 
name “ cornu ta,” or horned, refers to this peculiarity. The forehead and crown of the 
head are azure blue, and the neck fiery crimson at its base, changing to green near the centre, 
and taking a rich golden radiance at the extremity. The throat, the sides of the face, and 
the pendent tuft of feathers from the chin are velvety-black. The back is bronze-green, 
and the wings purple-brown. The two central feathers of the tail are olive-brown and the 
rest white, edged with the same tint. The breast, sides of the neck, and the upper part of 
the abdomen are grayish-white, and the remainder of the under surface is bronze-green. 
The female has nearly as long a tail as the male, but her throat is buffy-white, and she 
has no crest on the head nor beard hanging from the chin. 
A singular species is the Avocet Humming-bird. It is remarkable for the curious 
manner in which the bill is curved upwards at the extremity, after running nearly straight for 
the greater part of its length. As this formation of beak bears some resemblance to that 
which is found in the well-known Avocet, the present species has been named the Avocet 
Humming-bird. When the first specimen of this bird was brought to Europe, the peculiar 
shape of the beak was thought to be accidental, and owing to pressure against the side of the 
box in which the bird had been packed ; but it is now clear that the structure is intentional, 
