DE LALAND'S PLOVER-CREST (_Cephalolepis Delalandii_), a very beautiful
species, inhabiting Brazil, is of a pale but very pure metallic green
on the back and centre tail-feathers. The crest that adorns the head is
bright, light green, becoming darker towards its apex; in old age this
plume changes to a steel-blue; the under side is dark grey; a patch that
commences at the throat, and covers the breast and centre of the belly,
is bright blue; the quills are greyish brown, shaded with violet; the
exterior tail-feathers are black, edged with white; the beak is black, and
the foot blackish brown. The female and young are without the crest and
the blue patch on the breast. The body of this species is three inches
and a half long; the wing measures two inches, and the tail one inch. The
crest of the male is one inch and two-thirds long.
This graceful species of Humming Bird was first discovered by M. Delaland,
in the southern portion of Brazil. Mr. Reeves states that it inhabits Rio
de Janeiro, Minos Gerves, and Santa Catherina, but he was unaware whether
it remains in those provinces all the year or not. "Of the two nests that
I possess," says Mr. Gould, "one is of much more lengthened form than
the other, but both are composed of the same materials, namely, fine
fibrous roots, moss, lichens, and involucres of a composite plant, the
whole matted together with spiders' webs of so fine a kind that they are
almost imperceptible. Both had been suspended among the slender twigs of a
species of banana."
* * * * *
The COQUETTES (_Lophornis_) are remarkable for the magnificent collar that
adorns their neck, formed of long, narrow, and most delicately-marked
feathers; this collar can be raised or laid back at pleasure. The head is
usually embellished by a crest; the awl-shaped beak equals the head in
length; the wings are small and slender; the tail is composed of broad,
long feathers.