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."
We are told by M. Bourcier that "during the dry season it principally
frequents the open country in the neighbourhood of marshes, and obtains
its food from the small plants which there abound; during the rainy season
it re-enters the woods, where it seeks its food among the various orchids."
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The SYLPHS (_Lesbiæ_) are principally distinguished by their long, forked
tails.
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The RACKET-TAILED SYLPHS (_Steganurus_) have the outer tail-feathers much
prolonged, and almost naked except at their extremities, where the barbs
are broadly dilated.