OREOTROCHILUS PICHINCHA. 



Pichinchiari Hill-Star. 



Trochilus PichincJia, Bourc. et Muls. Ann. deTAcad. Sci. Bell. Lett, et Arts de Lyon, July 17, 



1849. 

 OreotrocMlus Jamesonii, Jard. Cont. Orn., 1849, p. 42. — lb. 1850, p. 27-1. pi. 43. 

 PicJiincha, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 76, 



The present bird is an inhabitant of the volcanic mountains of Pichincha and Cotopaxi, and is either more 

 abundant or more easily attainable than 0. Chimborazo, since specimens are far more numerous in our 

 collections of this recently acquired, than of the older known species. These two Hill-Stars are so inti- 

 mately allied, that the gorget-like mark of green on the throat of 0, Chimborazo is the only feature by 

 which it can be distinguished from the bird here represented ; the opinion of their non-identity is, however, 

 strengthened by the fact that they are never found to invade each other's territories. In a letter to Sir 

 William Jardine, Bart., Professor Jameson states that the present species inhabits the rocky summits of 

 Pichincha, where it is confined to a zone, commencing immediately below the snow-line and extending 

 downwards about 500 feet, and that it extracts its food from the floAvers of the Chuqmraga insigms, a plant 

 apparently peculiar to the volcanic soil surrounding the extinct craters of Ecuador. 



In some notes respecting this species kindly communicated to me by M. Jules Bourcier, that gentleman 

 states that it was first discovered by himself near the line of perpetual snow on the volcanic mountain of 

 Pichincha in the Republic of Ecuador ; that the altitude at which it is generally found varies from 10,500 to 

 12,000 feet above the level of the sea; that it is principally met with in the warmer gorges of the moun- 

 tain, where the soil being free from snow is adorned with vegetation ; that, like the 0. Chimborazo, it 

 appears to have a decided preference for the shrub named Cluiquiraga hmgnis by Humboldt and Bonpland 

 in their *' Plantes iEquinoctiales " ; that its habits and manners so closely resemble those of 0. Chimborazo 

 that one description will serve for both ; and that although the volcano of Pichincha is not more than 

 thirty leagues distant as the crow flies from that of Chimborazo, the species inhabiting each of these 

 mountains respectively is never found on the other- 



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

 black ; upper surface shining olive-green, becoming of a purer green on the upper tail-coverts ; wings 

 purplish brown ; two central tail-feathers dark green, the outer feathers on each side greenish black for 

 three-fourths of their length and white at the base ; the remainder of the tail-feathers white, the two next 

 the outer ones broadly, and the inner ones narrowly edged with greenish black ; chest and centre of the 

 abdomen white, with a Ihie 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 olive-brown ; bill and feet 

 black. 



The young male diflfers in having the head and gorget dull grass-green, with an indication only of the 

 purple hue; and in having the abdomen clouded with brown. 



The female has the whole of the upper surface olive-green ; two central tail-feathers dark glossy green ; 

 the remainder greenish brown with white bases, and a large irregular but nearly triangular-shaped spot of 

 white at the extremity of the inner web ; under surface olive-brown, each feather edged with white ; throat 

 greyish white, with a spot of olive near the tip of each feather ; bill and feet as in the male. 



The Plate represents two males and a female on the Chuquiraga insignis, all of the natural size. 



