lii INTRODUCTION. 



term OreotrocMlus. D'Orbigny introduced to us the O. Estellcs and O. AdeU) while in 1846 the fine O. Chimborazo 

 was broudit to lio-ht through the researches of M. Bourcier ; in 1849 the same gentleman made us aware of the 



5 5 o 



existence of the Httle less beautiful 0. PicUncha, and I, on my own part, had the pleasure of making known the O. 

 melamgaster and O. leucopleurus. All these birds inhabit loftier elevations than any other genus of Humming-Birds ; 

 for they love to dwell in regions just beneath the line where the melting snows and the warmth of the sun call forth 

 an alpine flora and a pecuhar character of insect life; and I question if any other insessorial birds seek their food 

 at so OTeat an elevation as the O. Chimborazo and O. Pichincha. As far as our present knowledge extends, no spe- 

 cies has been found to the northward of Ecuador, while to the south they range along the high lands of Peru and 

 Bolivia. 



Genus Oreotrochilus, Gould. 

 C0po9, mons, et rpoxi^o^, trochilus ; Mountain Humming-Bird.) 



Generic characters. 



Male. — Bill longer than the head, almost cylindrical, and slightly incurved ; wings rather long and powerful ; 

 tail lai-ge, the feathers narrow and rigid ; tarsi clothed ; feet strong ; hind toe and nail about the same length as the 

 middle toe and nail ; throat luminous. 



Female. Unadorned. 



77. Oreotrochilus Chimborazo Vol. II. PI. 68. 



Orotrochilus Chimborazo^ Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 15, note. 



Habitat, Immediately below the snow-line round the cone of the volcanic mountain Chimborazo. 



Mr. Eraser, who killed many examples at Panza, at an altitude of 14,000 feet, says, " Irides hazel ; bill, legs, 

 and feet black. To be seen occasionally on the Arbor Maria, but feeds generally on a red thistle. It is common, 

 and by no means shy, and has rather a pretty song, oft repeated, and to be heard at a considerable distance. In 

 bad weather, when the wind is high, this bird is said to creep under and into the clumps of Paja (a species 

 of Stipa).'' 



78. Oreotrochilus Pichincha Vol. 11. PI. 69. 



Orotrochilus Pichinchae, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 15. 



Habitat. The snow-line of the volcanic mountains of Pichincha and Cotopaxi in Ecuador. 



"Guagua and Ruco Pichincha (14,000 feet alt.), many examples. The Pichincha Humming-Bird, like the 

 Chimborazo, is found only close under the line of perpetual snow; but this species, according to the present state 

 of our knowledge, is more widely distributed than the latter, being found not only on Pichincha, but also on Anti- 

 sana and Cotopaxi. Upon my 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 not shy, seldom remaining on one clump more than a second, 

 then away to another, perhaps a yard distant. Sometimes they would take a rapid flight of 40 or 50 yards. On 

 my second visit, the Chuquiragua (^Chuquiraga insignis, Humb.) 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 ruffled, 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 diff^er from O. Chimborazo. 



"June 5. No snow on the ground, and all birds were apparently scarce and shyer; these birds in particular 

 were chasing each other, in twos and threes, like flashes of lightning.''— Fraser in Proc. o/ZooL Soc. part xxviii. p. 79. 



79. Oreotrochilus Estell^ . Vol, H. PI. 70. 



Orotrochilus Estellae, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 16. 

 Habitat. The high lands near La Paz in Bolivia. 



80. Oreotrochilus LEUCOPLEURUS, GowW .......... Vol. II. PI. 71. 



Orotrochilus leucopleurus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. Theil iii. p. 16. 



" Oreotrochilus leucopterus, Reichenb.", Cab. et Hein. ib. 



Trochilus Milleri, Lodd. MS. ; Eraser in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part xi. p. 114. 



Habitat. The Chilian Andes. 



