286 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
resembles the previous species, the coloring being nearly identical, and the 
puff-legs present, but it differs in possessing a bifurcated tail, with two greatly 
elongated feathers that terminate in spatulate tips. It is comparatively plentiful 
about Bogota. Its flight is swift and arrow-like, and on the wing it is the spirit 
of grace and loveliness. 
Star Throat, or Angel Hummer (71 angelus ), is found in nearly every 
part of Brazil, though at no place does it seem to be common. The bill of 
this species is very long, to enable it to reach the bottoms of the llianas flowers 
to extract the nectar, but it also catches insects. The plumage is very 
beautiful, the head being a metallic green, which changes under reflection to 
ultramarine, blue and gold. The back is of a golden sheen, and the wings 
and tail a variable purple-black and seal-brown. The gorget, or centre of the 
throat, is a brilliant crimson, edged with feathers tipped with blue, and on each 
flank is a tuft of white feathers. 
The White Cap (71 albocoronatus) is one of the smallest of humming¬ 
birds, and being quite rare, few naturalists have had an opportunity to study its 
habits. M r. 
Gould, who 
has devoted 
much time to 
an investiga¬ 
tion of the 
habits of all 
the genera, 
writes thus 
concerning 
the white cap: 
“ It was in the 
autumn of 
1852, in New 
Granada, that 
I obtained sev- 
eral speci¬ 
mens of this 
diminutive 
ANGEL HUMMER, OR STAR THROAT. WHITE CAP AND MAGNIFICENT SUN ANGEL. Val "i e ty of the 
humming¬ 
bird family. The first one I saw was perched on a twig, preening his 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. This little creature would poise itself about three feet or 
so above the surface of the water, and then as quick as thought dart down¬ 
wards so as to dip its diminutive head in the placid pool, and this action it 
continued so rapidly that the water was kept constantly stirred.” 
The Magnificent, or Sun Angel (71 magnificus ), is one of several species 
that are found in the Andean range, and, with all its genus, is distinguished 
for the royal ornamentation of its raiment. Of this particular species, Mr. 
Gould thus writes : “ I regard this as the most beautiful and charming of the 
