THE CHIMBOEAZIAN HILL-STAE. 253 



the cenU-e, and taking a rich golden radiance at the extremity. The throat, the sides 

 of the face, and the pendent tuft of feathers from the chin are velvety-black. The back 

 is bronze-green, and the wings purple-brown. The two central feathers of the tail are 

 olive-brown and the rest white, edged with the same tint. The breast, sides of the neck, 

 and the upper part of the abdomen are greyish-white, and the remainder of the under 

 surface is bronze-green. The female has nearly as long a tail as the male, but her throat 

 is buffy white, and she lias no crest on the head nor beard hanging from the chin. 



A drawing of this species may be seen on page 233, wliere it occ\ipies the space 

 immediately above the Cora's Shear-tail. 



On reference to the engraving on page 227, the reader will see a figure of the Avocet 

 Humming-bird, placed immediately below the drawing of the Euby-throated Humming- 

 bird. 



This singular species is remarkaljle for the curious manner in which the bill is curved 

 upwards at the extremity, after running nearly straight for the greater part of its length. 

 As this formation of beak bears some resemblance to that which is foimd in the well- 

 known Avocet, the present species has been named the Avocet Humming-bird. When the 

 first specimen of this bird was brought to Europe, the peculiar shape of the beak was 

 thought to be accidental, and owing to pressure against the side of the box in which the 

 bird had been packed ; but it is now clear that the structure is intentional, and that, in all 

 probability, it subserves some very important purpose. Some persons have suggested, 

 with some show of reason, that the beak is recurved in order to enable the bird to feed 

 upon the nectar and insects which reside in the deepest recesses of certain tubular 

 flowers. 



It is a pretty bird, Irat is not gifted with the gorgeous and dazzling hues which are 

 so lavishly shed upon the plumage of many Humming-birds. The head and the whole 

 of the upper parts of the body are shining golden-green, and the throat is bright emerald. 

 The under parts are also gold-green, with the exception of a black streak that runs from 

 the breast through the centre of the abdomen. The wings are purple-brown, and the 

 lateral feathers of the tail are topaz. 



Our ideas of Humming-birds are naturally associated with the tropical climate and 

 burning sun of the regions which they inhabit, and few persons would think of looking 

 for any species of Humming-bird in a locality where the temperature seldom rises above 

 that of an ordinary English winter. Yet the Chimborazian Hill-star is never fovmd 

 except upon the elevated portions of the lofty mountains from which it derives its 

 name, and inhabits exclusively the very edges of the line of perpetual snow. 



This bird is never seen on any spot that is less than twelve thoiisand feet above the 

 level of the sea, and is most commonly seen at a much greater elevation, specimens 

 having been obtained on spots that are at least sixteen thousand feet above the ocean. 

 Beyond this height the creature cannot live, as the line of perpetual snow commences at 

 that point, and places an effectual barrier against the growth of the plants on which the bird 

 finds its subsistence. The two sexes are seldom seen near each other, the males preferring 

 to haunt the extremities of the loftiest branches, while the females hover near the ground. 

 Partly owing to this peculiarity, and partly on account of her sober tinting, the female 

 generally escapes observation. The plant on which the Chimborazian Hill-star is usually 

 found is the Chuquiraqua insignis, a flowering alpine shrub, with large pale yellow 

 blossoms, and the bird is so closely attached to this shrub, that it is never found at any 

 great distance from its golden flowers. 



The nest of this species is made of lichens, and is fastened to the side of a rock in some 

 situation where it is protected by an overhanging ledge of rock. 



Except upon the head and throat, the Chimborazian Hill-star is not so brilliantly 

 clothed as many of its compeers, but upon those parts the creature shines with rainbow 

 lightness. The general colour of the ujiper parts of the liody is pale dusky olive-green, 

 with the exception of the wings, which have the purple-brown tint usual among Humming- 

 birds. The under parts are white, deepening into dusky black upon the under tail-coverts, 



