f, changing to green at the sides. The
tail is of a bronzed brown, with the two centre feathers of bronzed
green. The female is destitute of the red mark on the throat and
forehead."

HELIANGELUS CLARISSA.

Another sun-angel, the Heliangelus Clarissae, has a deep ruby crimson
gorget.

SNOW-CAP HUMMING-BIRD.

In New Granada is also found the curious little snow-cap humming-bird,
one of the most rare of the Trochilidae. It is of a brown colour, with
a coppery hue, in which, in certain lights, a purple reflection can be
perceived. The crown of the head and the tip of the tail-feathers are
of a dazzling white.

Mr Gould describes one he saw perched on a twig, pluming its feathers.
At first he was doubtful whether so small an object could be a bird. It
was standing over a pool of water. "At first the little creature would
poise itself about three feet or so above the water, and then, as quick
as thought, dive downwards, so as to dip its miniature head in the
placid pool. Then up again it would fly to its original position, as
quickly as it had descended. These movements of darting up and down it
repeated in rapid succession, producing a wonderful disturbance of the
surface of the water for so diminutive a creature. After a considerable
number of dips it alighted on a twig near at hand, and commenced pluming
its feathers."

SPANGLED COQUETTE.

The spangled coquette, like all of its genus, possesses a well-defined
crest on the head, and a number of feathers projecting from the neck.
This singular crest it can raise or depress at will, producing a curious
effect in the appearance of the little bird. When depressed, the crest
lies fiat, and projects on either side, so that the sparkling eyes can
scarcely be seen. The crest and feathers projecting from the neck are
of a light, ruddy chestnut, the latter having dark bronzed green spots
on the tip. The head is of the same colour; the throat and face of a
lustrous green. Below the gorget projects a small crossing from side to
side, and the rest of the plumage is of a dark, ruddy chestnut colour.
The female has neither crest nor gorget.

TRAIN-BEARER (LEOBIA AMARYLLIS).

Professor Orton tells us that the valley of Quito swarms with those
winged jewels--of varied hue--the Trochilidae.

Among them is the train-bearer, which, small as it is, has a straight
tail nearly six inches in length.

HILL STAR.

The neighbouring heights of Chimborazo and Pichincha ar