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."