448 HUMMING-BIRD 
—the object seen being a Hawk-Moth (Jucroglossa), whose mode of 
feeding and rapid flight certainly bears some resemblance to that of 
the Trochilidx, and hence one of the species (JZ. stellarwm) is very 
generally called the “Humming-bird Hawk-Moth.” But though 
confined to the New World, the Yrochilidw pervade almost every 
part of it. In the south Hustephanus galeritus has been seen flitting 
about the fuchsias of Tierra del Fuego in a snowstorm, and in the 
north-west Selatophorus ! rufus in summer visits the ribes-blossoms of 
Sitka, while in the north-east Trochilus colubris charms the vision of 
MELLISUGA MINIMA ON NEST, natural size. (After Gosse.) 
Canadians as it poises itself over the althzea-bushes in their gardens, 
and extends its range at least so far as lat. 57° N. Nor is the 
distribution of Humming-birds limited to a horizontal direction 
only, it rises also vertically.  Oreotrochilus chimborazo and O. pichincha 
live on the lofty mountains whence each takes its trivial name, but 
just beneath the line of perpetual snow, at an elevation of some 
16,000 feet, dwelling in a world of almost constant hail, sleet and 
rain, and feeding on the insects which resort to the indigenous 
flowering plants, while other peaks, only inferior to these in height, 
are no less frequented by one or more species. Peru and Bolivia 
produce some of the most splendid of the Family—the genera 
* Commonly but in error written Selasphorus, 
