OREOTROCHILUS CHIMBORAZO. 



Chimboraziaii Hill-Star. 



Trochihis Chhnhorazo^ Boiirc. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 305. 



OreotrochUus Chimhorazo, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part xv. p. 10. — Gray and Mitch. 



Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 104, Genus OreotrocJiilus, sp. 3. — Bonap. Consp. Gen. 



Av., p. 76. 



This l)eautlful species of Hill-Star is an inhabitant of the celebrated volcanic mountain Chimborazo, where 

 it is to be found at an elevation of from 12 to 16,000 feet, or to the verge of perpetual snow; in these 

 desolate regions it finds a home so congenial to its habits, that it is never known to descend to the warmer 

 valleys below ; the various alpine plants, particularly the Chuquiraga insignis, afford it a constant supply 

 of insect food; there, in the land of storms and earthquakes, it has dwelt for ages entirely unknown, and 

 there it might have remained for ages yet to come, since few would imagine that so delicate a creature as a 

 Humming-bird could live in such an inhospitable clime, had not the energy of modern travellers induced 

 them to explore regions neglected by their predecessors, and thereby bring to light the numerous 

 interesting objects which have enriched our collections of late years, among which few are more conspicuous 

 for their beauty than the OreotrochUus Chimborazo, The merit of discovering this fine bird is due to 

 M. De Lattre, who obtained a single specimen of the male while passing over one of the ridges of Chim- 

 borazo; this specimen is now in the possession of E. Wilson, Esq. of Lydstip House, Pembrokeshire. For 

 the first specimens that came into my own possession I am indebted to my friend Professor Jameson of 

 the University of Quito, who sent me fine examples of both sexes. Since that period the researches of 

 M. Jules Bourcier, late French Consul at Quito, have been rewarded by the acquisition of numerous others, 

 and it is to this gentleman that I am indebted for the following brief notes — all that are known— of its 

 habits and manners. 



" This species is exclusively confined to the volcanic mountain Chimborazo ; here, at an altitude where 

 vegetation ceases and near to the eternal snows, it loves to dwell, the altitude of its range appearing to be 

 governed by that of the Chuquiraga, its favourite shrub, the flowers of which afford it an abundance of 

 nectarian and insect food. It is solitary in its habits, and so pugnacious, that it immediately offers battle to 

 intruders upon its haunts : the male always perches on the extremity of the most elevated branch, and is 

 rarely found near the female, which, unlike the male, invariably perches near to the ground ; a circumstance, 

 which, combined with her sombre colouring, renders her very difficult of detection. 



" The nest is formed of lichens, and is either suspended to or sheltered beneath a ledge of rock ; the 

 eggs as usual are white, and two in number. 



"Tlie young retain their greyish green colouring during the first year, and do not attain their perfect 

 plumage until the second year of their existence;" the young males may, however, be at all times 

 distinguished by a tolerably well-defined collar of olive-green and brown. 



The male has the head and throat bright violet-blue, bounded below by a narrow line of deep velvety 

 black, and having in the centre of the violet-blue of the throat an oblong triangular gorget of rich light 

 shinino' ^reen ; upper surfixce shining olive-green, becoming of a purer green on the upper tail-coverts ; 

 wings purplish brown ; two centre tail-feathers dark green ; outer feather on each side greenish black for 

 three-fourths of its len^-th, and white at the base; the remainder of the tail-feathers white; the two next 

 the outer feathers broadly, and the inner one narrowly margined with greenish black ; chest and centre of 

 the abdomen white, with a line of greenish black down the centre of its lower portion ; flanks olive-brown ; 

 under tail-coverts shining olive-green ; thighs and feathers clothing the tarsi brown ; bill and feet black. 



The female has all the upper surface olive-green ; two centre tail-feathers dark glossy green ; the 

 remainder li^ht ereenish brown with white bases, and a lar2;e irregular spot of white at the extremity of the 

 inner web ; under surface olive-brown, each feather edged with white ; throat white, with a spot of olive 

 near the tip of each feather ; bill and feet as in the male. 



The Plate represents two adult males and a female on the Chuquiraga insignis, of the natural size ; and in 

 the distance two immature males. 



