HUMMIMG-BIRDS. 



455 



The genera Eulampis and Z/ampornis are closely allied, with green and black 

 the principal hues of their plumage, sometimes varied with blue, the metallic colors 

 chiefly confined to the throat and breast. The species of Eulampis in addition to 

 other characters possess luminous upper tail-coverts causing them to be very con- 

 spicuous objects. The birds of these genera inhabit Mexico, Central America, West 

 India islands, and portions of eastern South America. 



Oreotrochilus is a genus of hummers that dwell in lofty altitudes just beneath 

 the line of perpeptual snow. Some of the species are entirely confined to particular 



'!' ' ' 



FIG. 226. Oreotrochilus chimborazo, Chimborazo humming-bird. 



mountains, like 0. chimborazo and O. pichincha, which are found upon the vol- 

 canic peaks whose names they bear and that of Cotopaxi. The last named feeds 

 frequently from the ground, hunting the moss-covered clumps for insects, as the snow 

 melts away. When the plants of those Alpine heights are in bloom, they frequent 

 the flowers. Another species, O. leucopleiirus, is said to live in the most elevated 

 Andean valleys, amid storms of rain, hail, and thunder, in places where a species of 

 this family would be least expected. It subsists mostly upon insects, small flies chiefly 

 contributing to its support. They arc handsome birds with the under parts white, 

 deep chestnut, or black, with metallic-colored throats, some with richly colored heads. 



