THE CHIMBORAZIAN HILL STAR. 



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This singular bird, like its congener, the White-throated Hill 

 Star, prefers elevated situations, and is found at still higher alti- 

 tudes. Specimens are never found less than twelve thousand 

 feet above the level of the sea, and are frequently seen at the as- 

 tonishing elevation of sixteen thousand feet, where it thrives in 

 spite of the extreme cold which continually reigns and checks the 

 magnificent flowering plants which are so plentiful toward the 

 foot of the mountain. As may be seen from the name of the 

 bird, it lives upon Chimborazo, and feeds upon the juices of the 

 yellow Chuquiraqua insignis, an alpine plant with large blossoms. 



Sawbill Iluruuiing-bird. Brazilian Wood N'ymph. White-aided Ilill Star. 



It is not a brilliantly-colored bird, the general colors being pale 

 dusky green, relieved by a splendid emerald patch upon the chest. 

 The nest of the Chimborazian Hill Star is made chiefly of lichens, 

 and is hung against the sides of some perpendicular rock, where 

 it is sheltered by a shelf overhead. There is another Hill Star 

 which much resembles this species, but does not possess the green 

 patch on the throat. This species also inhabits a volcanic mount- 

 ain, being; confined within a narrow zone of some two hundred 

 yards in width. It is a remarkable fact, that though this species, 



