THE TRAIN-BEARER HILL STAR. 387 



throat and face of a lustrous green. Below tlie gorget pro- 

 jects a small crossing from side to side, and the rest of the 

 plumage is of a dark, ruddy chestnut colour. The female 

 has neither crest nor gorget. 



TRAIX-BEARER (LEOBIA AMARYLLIS). 



Professor Orton tells us that the valley of Quito swarms 

 with those winged jewels — of varied hue — the Trochilidse. 



Among them is the train-bearer, which, small as it is, has a 

 straight tail nearly six inches in length. 



HILL STAR. 



The neighbouring heights of Chimborazo and Pichincha are 

 adorned with two beautiful little creatures, well called '' Hill 

 Stai-s ;" and it is curious that the hill star of Chimborazo 

 never visits Pichincha, nor does the latter ever approach 

 Chimborazo. They are very like each other ; but while that 

 of Chimborazo has a triangular green spot upon the throat, it 

 is wanting in the Pichincha hill star. The colour of the upper 

 |)art of the Chimborazian hill star is of a somewhat dark 

 olive-green, except the wings, which are of a purple-brow^n 

 tint. The under parts are wdiite ; but they deepen into a 

 dusky black upon the under tail-coverts. The head and 

 throat are of the most glorious blue, with the exception of tlie 

 before-mentioned emerald green patch on the centre of the 

 throat, which is of a triangular form, one angle pointing up- 

 wards. It has a broad collar of velvety black round the neck, 

 the dark hues of the head contrasting curiously with the dark 

 body. In the tail there are two white feathers, edged with 

 greenish-black. Tlie hen is of a more sombre hue, having 

 an olive-green head, and the throat white, spotted with green. 



