74 cassell's book of birds. 



the earth. The nest is a somewhat loose structure, outwardly composed of interlaced fibres, slight 

 twigs, and moss, and frequently lined with soft hair, like that of the Viscacha {Lagostomus tridldylus), 

 with the lower portion prolonged considerably below the bottom of the cup-shaped interior, which 

 is about an inch and a half in diameter and an inch in depth ; the total length of the nest averaging 

 from two inches and a half to three inches. The little structure is placed in situations similar to 

 those selected by the Spotted Flycatcher, namely, against the sides of the gully, supported or entirely 

 sustained by any hanging root or twig that may be best adapted to afford it security ; the part of 

 the nest ne.\t the wall is much thicker, but of a coarser texture than the circular portions of the 

 structure. The tw^o eggs are oblong in form, of a pure white, and about half an inch in length. 

 The difficulty of shooting these birds is inconceivably great, from the extraordinary turns they make 

 when on the wing : at one instant darting headlong into a flower, at the next describing a circle in 

 the air with such rapidity that the eye, unable to follow the movement, loses sight of it until it again 

 returns to the flowers." 



The MASKED HUMMING BIRDS {Microrhamphi) have a short, straight beak, moderately 

 long and broad wings, and long, forked tail, which occasionally varies in its formation. The head 

 and neck are adorned with peculiar tufts of feathers. 



THE SHARP-BEARDED MASKED HUMMING BIRD. 



The Sharp-bearded Masked Humming Bird (Microrhamphiis oxypogon). — "I met with this 

 fine species," says M. Linden, "for the first time in August, 1842, while ascending the Sien-a Nevada 

 de Merida, the crests of which are the most elevated of the eastern branch of the Columbian 

 Cordilleras. It inhabits the region immediately beneath the line of perpetual congelation, at an 

 elevation of from 12,000 to 13,000 feet above the level of the sea; it appears to be confined to 

 the region between the 8th and 7th degree of north latitude. It occasionally perches on the 

 scattered shrubs of this icy region, but most frequently on the projecting ledges of the rocks near 

 to the snow. Its flight is swift, but very short. When it leaves the spot upon which it has been 

 perched, it launches itself obliquely downwards, uttering, at the same time, a plaintive whistling 

 sound, which is also occasionally uttered when perched ; as far as I can recollect, I never heard it 

 produce the humming sound made by several other members of the group, nor does it partake of 

 their joyous spirit and perpetual activity. Its food appears to consist of minute insects, all the 

 specimens we procured having their stomachs filled with small flies." 



" This bird," says Gould, " is never met with at a less elevation than 9,000 feet. It might be 

 thought that such bleak and inclement situations were ill-adapted for so delicate a structure as that 

 of the Humming Bird ; but there and there only does it dwell, while the equally lofty paramas of 

 Bogota are the native locality of the nearly-allied species, Oxypogon Guerini. The minute insects 

 which frequent the Alpine flowers of these districts afford abundance of food to these birds, and 

 their bills are beautifully constructed for searching amongst the flowers in which these are found." 



THE COLUMBIAN THORNBILL. 



The CoLtJMBiAN Thornbill {Ratnphomicron heteropogon) has only the feathers on the neck 

 prolonged ; the beak is sharp and pointed ; the wings narrow, and of medium length ; the broad 

 tail is deeply forked. The entire mantle is of copper-green, the brow deep, rich green ; and the long 

 feathers on the throat of a somewhat metallic green in the centre, and orange-red at the roots and 

 edges ; the lower belly is greyish white, quills purplish brown, and tail greenish bro\vn. 



"The high lands of Columbia," says Gould, "from Venezuela to some distance north of Santa 



