On the head the feathers became short and velvety, and shaded into rich orange.

Beneath, from the breast downwards, was pure white, with the softness and gloss of silk, and across the breast a band of deep metallic green separated this colour from the red of the throat.

Above each eye was a round spot of the same metallic green; the bill was yellow, and the feet and legs were of a fine cobalt oille, strikingly contrasting with all the other parts of the body.

Merely in arrangement of colours and texture of plumage this little bird was a gem of the first water, yet there comprised only half its strange beauty.

Springing from each side of the breast, and ordinarily lying concealed under the wings, were little tufts of greyish feathers about two inches long, and each terminated by a broad band of intense emerald green.