[Illustration: THE SPLENDID COQUETTE (_Lephornis ornata_).]
Mr. Tucker states that "this species frequents the pastures and open places, and visits the flowers of all the small shrubs, but is particularly fond of those of the ipecacuanha plant; and that it is very pugnacious, erecting its crest, throwing out its whiskers, and attacking every Humming Bird that passes within the range of its vision."
The AMAZONS (_Bellatrix_) have a smaller collar and larger crest than the above group.
The ROYAL AMAZON (_Bellatrix regina_), a beautiful species inhabiting Columbia, closely resembles the bird last described, but with these differences: the rump is a copper-colour and the lower part of the back striped with white; the tail is brown, the quills purplish brown, and the collar emerald green; each of its feathers spotted with red. The crest is formed of long, narrow, bright red feathers, some of which have a deep metallic green spot at the tip.
[Illustration: THE HORNED SUN-GEM (_Heliactinus cornutus_).]
The SUN-GEMS (_Heliactinus_) are distinguishable from the above group by the superior length of the tail and crest; the wing is long and slender, the tail much graduated, and formed of narrow, pointed feathers. The beak is longer than the head, and increases slightly in thickness towards its delicate tip. The feet are small, and the claws short and powerful.
The HORNED SUN-GEM (_Heliactinus cornutus_) is of a steel-blue on the crown of the head; the collar beautifully shaded, from violet, green, yellow, and orange to red; the throat, neck, and cheeks are deep rich black; the upper breast, centre of the belly, rump, and exterior tail-feathers white, and the quills grey. The female is without the collar and crest, her throat is reddish yellow, and the outer feathers of the tail striped with black at their centre. The beak is black. This species is four inches and a half long, the wing measures two inches, and the tail from two to two and a half inches.
[Illustration: THE WHITE-FOOTED RACKET-TAIL (_Steganurus Underwoodii_).]
"The Horned Sun-gem," says Gould, "is an inhabitant of the mountain ranges of Brazil, particularly those of Minos Gerves, and well does this elegant little bird represent in the air the brilliant that is hidden in the deep primitive rocks over which it flies, fairy-like in form and colour; we might easily imagine that one of the jewels had become vivified, and had taken wing."