HPHOI CmtU'
LOPHORNIS REGINA, Gould.
Spangled Coquette.
Lophornis Regina, Gould in Proc. o f Zool. Soc., part xv. p. 95.
Mellimga regina, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 113, Mellimga, sp. 92.
Lophornis reginae, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 84, Lophornis, sp. 8.
— regina, Ib. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 257.
Bellatrix Reginae, Reichenb. Aufz. der Colibris, p. 12.
As I had frequently been informed of the existence of a species of Lophornis with a crest, which, when outspread,
resembled the tail of a Peacock, it was with no ordinary sensations of pleasure I first beheld the
lovely little bird here depicted; specimens of which arrived in Europe for the first time in the year 1847,
through the instrumentality of M. Linden of Brussels, who received it direct from his brother, at that
time travelling in the province of Antioquia in Columbia. Since that period several other examples have
been received from the same source, and from the neighbouring countries; the native locality of this
beautiful species is therefore placed beyond doubt.
The Lophornis Regina differs from every other known member of the genus in its large, round, and
well-defined crest, each feather of which is surmounted by a ball-like, dark bronzy-green tip, which must
render the bird a most conspicuous and pleasing object when the feathers are fully displayed.
The sexes exhibit the usual difference, the female being entirely destitute of the fine crest and rich
colouring of the male.
I regret to add that no information has reached us respecting the habits and manners.
The male has the crown of the head and crest bright rusty-red, each feather with a beautiful dark bronzy-
green spot at the tip; lores, throat and sides of the neck luminous metallic-green, beneath which is a patch
of white lanceolate feathers ; back of the neck and upper part of the back shining green ; lower part of the
back, rump, and upper tail-coverts bronzy-brown; rump crossed by a narrow band of white; tail chestnut-
brown, the tips and margins of the external feathers rich bronzy-green; wings purplish-brown; abdomen
light metallic-green; bill fleshy at the base, dark brown at the tip ; feet brown.
The female has the forehead and crown deep buff; upper surface and wing-coverts bronzy-green ; lower
part of the back dark or blackisli-brown, crossed by a band of white; wings purplish-brown; tail buff,
crossed towards the apex by a broad dusky semicircular band; throat dusky; under surface bronzy-green.
The figures are of the natural size.