320 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv. 
COLIBRI lOLATUS (Gould). 
Petamphora lo!((ta Gould, Pruc. Zuol. Sue. Loud., 1847, p. 9. 
Colibrl jolata Bonaparte, Consp. Avium, I, 1850, p. 69. 
Colibri. iolatuiit Hartert, Tierreich, IX, 1900, p. 94. 
Fort3^-eioht specimens, from Chillo Valle^^, Jambillo, Aloag, Quito, 
Papallacta, Valle de Viciosa, and Jablon, Ecuador; Pasto, United 
States of Colomliia. Birds of this series from the eastern side of 
the mountains average more golden green both above and below than 
those from'the western ;5lope, but as this character does not appear to 
be at all coincident Avith geographical distribution, it can not be used 
as the basis for subspecific separation. Examples of both styles of col- 
oration occur in the same localities in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia; 
and, furthermore, neither is contined to one side of the Andes. 
Thi« is Huother liuniniingbird very common in Quito and its environs and indeed all 
over Ecuador, at altitudes of from about 8,500 to 11,500 feet. We found it pai t'cularly 
plentiful in the Chillo Valley when the guava flowers were out. It does not range 
to so high an altitude on the western Andes as it does on the eastern ranges. I had 
these birds constantly under observation during our stay at the British consulate 
in Quito, and they appeared to nest in the courtyards there nearly all the year round. 
When the nest was destroyed by mice, another one was immediately started elsewhere. 
They were placed in all sorts of positions, in the creepers by the sides of the doors 
and windows, and in low ti'ees. One nest was built in a loquat tree and much exposed 
to the rain. After a few days I noticed the female bird drawing together a few of 
the large leaves overhead, and securing them in position with cobwebs, which canopy 
afterwards quite protected her from the rain. These birds would never telerate the 
presence of others of even the same species in the garden when nesting, and chased 
away other birds much larger than themselves. On one occasion they pulled to 
pieces the nest of a Diglusfta aterrima and drove its owners away. They feed largely 
on small insects, darting into the air and taking them on the wing. The young put 
their bills right down the throats of the females when feeding. On many occasions 
the parent birds have flown into the room where I have been skinning birds and 
seized small pieces of cotton wool from my work table with Avhich to build their 
nests. They also searched all the corners of the ceiling for spiders. When the flrst 
egg is laid, the male bird entirely disappears from the garden and never once comes 
near it again until the young have flown. On several occasions I saw them copulating 
in the air, when the male spreads out the blue feathers on the sides of the neck, the 
only time at which I have seen him do it. The local name is "Quinde real'^ — royal 
hummingbird. 
COLIBRI BUCKLEYI (Gould). 
Pinarohviiia backlei/i (iorLD, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Y, 1880, p. 489. 
Colihri hiwkkiii Hartert, Tierreich, IX, 1900, p. 95. 
A single specimen fromPueml)o, Chillo Valley, near Quito, Ecuador, 
taken in December, 1898. The type of this very interesting species 
was collected by Buckley at Misqui, Bolivia, and up to the present 
has remained unique. The example here recorded thus considerably 
extends the bird's range. This specimen is a male in perfect plumage 
and is apparently adidt. Details of coloration evident in this indi- 
vidual, but not mentioned in descriptions of the type, are the pale 
