Birds. 



7313 



Habits and Xest of thr Pichincha Humming Bird. — The Pichincha humming 

 bird, like the Chimboriizo, is found only close under the line of perpetual snow ; but 

 this species, according to the present state of our knowledge, is more widely dis- 

 tributed than the latter, being found not only on Pichincha, but also on Antisana and 

 Cotopaxi. Upon ray first visit to Guagua Pichincha these birds were feeding entirely 

 on the ground, hunting the little moss-covered clumps as fast as the snow melted. 

 They are not uncommon in this locality, but always met with singly. They are very 

 restless, but nut shy, seldom remaining on one clump more thau a second, then away 

 to another, perhaps a yard distant. Sometimes they would take a rapid flight of forty 

 or fifty yards. On my second visit, the Chuquiragua being in flower, they were 

 feeding from it like the Quindi of Chimborazo, but still occasionally hunted the 

 mossy clumps. They flit with a burr of the wings, and occasionally settle, with the 

 feathers all niflBed, on the top of the Chuquiragua or other small plant. In this 

 respect, so far as my observations and those of Professor Jameson go, they difl'er from 

 0. Chimborazo, Professor Jameson found this si)ecies building hanging nests in the 

 lower compartment of the farm-house on Antisana." Mr. Fraser has sent home one 

 of these nests as found by Professor 

 Jameson on the 2nd of November, 

 1858. It was attached to a rope hang- 

 ing to the roof of the house, which is 

 situated at an elevation of 13,454 feet 

 above the sea-level. It forms a large 

 compact mass of wool and hair, mixed 

 with dried moss and feathers, of the 

 curious shape portrayed in the accom- 

 panying woodcut. A little cup-shaped 

 opening at the top forms a receptacle 

 for the eggs, and is balanced and 

 brought into a horizontal position by 

 the weight of the mass on the oj)po- 

 site side of the rope by which it is 

 suspended. Mr. Fraser again says, 

 speaking of two specimens obtained 



on Gu.igua Pichincha in June : — " From the mouth of one of these two birds a quan- 

 tity of very pale yellow fluid, of a slightly sweet taste, flowed ; but I did not find any 

 in either crop or gizzard. Amongst some of those, of the same species, which I 

 skinned the other day, I observed the same thing. If my memory serves me cor- 

 rectly it has occuiTcd twice before in other species. I observed three specimens of 

 this bird, all of a row, hanging to the bare rock (this now explains the use of those 

 large feet and claws which the species of this group have, and which has hitherto 

 puzzled me), like sand martins ; it was under a ledge well protected from the 

 weather, consequently well adapted by Nature for nest-building. They would fly 

 away and then return ; this was done in my sight three or four times in succession. 

 On examining the spot, which was almost inaccessible, I found much excrement, 

 proving to my mind that they bred in societies. My countryman, Col. Stacey, on a 

 visit to this mountain, happened to have on a new bright yellow oil-skin cover to his 

 wide-awake hat, and one of these birds flew round and round it for a considerable 

 time, — as he supposes, mistaking it for a flower.'" — ' Birds collected by Mr. Fraser in 

 VOL. XIX. D 



