SNOW-CAP HUMMING-BIRD . — Microchcera albocorondta. 
SPANGLED COQUETTE . — Lophornis Regina. c_. 
The Little Snow-cap is one of the rarest among the Humming-birds. It lives 
in New Granada, and the person who discovered it gave the following account 
of it : — 
“ The first one I saw was perched on a twig, pluming its feathers. I was 
doubtful for a few moments whether so small an object could be a bird, but on 
close examination I convinced myself of the fact and secured it. Another I 
encountered while bathing, and for a time I watched its movements before 
shooting it. The little creature would poise itself about three feet or so above 
the surface of the water, and then as quick as thought dart downwards, so as to 
dip its miniature head in the placid pool ; then up again to its original position, 
quite as quickly as it had descended. These movements of darting up and 
down it would repeat in rapid succession, which produced not a moderate 
disturbance of the surface of the water for sucll a diminutive creature. After a 
considerable number of dippings, it alighted on a twig near at hand, and 
commenced pluming its feathers.” 
On the same drawing may be seen another remarkable little bird, possessed of 
a most beautiful and graceful crest. This is the Spangled Coquette. All the 
Coquettes possess a well-defined crest upon the head, and a series of projecting 
feathers from the neck. 
The Spangled Coquette is a native of several parts of Columbia, and was 
first brought to England in 1847. The singular crest is capable of being 
raised or depressed at the will of the bird. 
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