ORNITHOLOGY OF QUITO. 
OREOTROCHILUS JAMESONH, Jardine. 
October, 1849. 
This beautiful species forms part of Mr. Gould’s genus Oreotro- 
chilus, all the known species of which inhabit the highest peaks 
of the Andes, bordering upon the limit of perpetual snow. Mr. 
J ameson writes, £e It inhabits the rocky summit of Pichincha, and 
extracts its food from the flowers of Cliuqueraga insignis. It is 
limited to a narrow zone, commencing immediately under the snow 
line, and extending about 500 feet.” 
Three fine specimens of Oreotrochilus have already been figured, 
all haying a brilliant green gorget. The one before us resembling 
the others in the arrangement of the markings, has this conspi- 
cuous ornament of a rich purplish-blue ; the bill is black ; edge of 
the mandible at the base yellowish ; the crown, cheeks, and nape, 
deep blue ; back and upper tail-covers greyish-green, with partial 
reflections, and on the lower back and rump marked with fine 
pale undulations ; wings brownish-black ; tail, with the centre 
feathers, shining blackish-green ; the others with the inner webs 
white ; the tips and outer webs of the feathers black — the propor- 
tion of black increasing on those to the outside ; and on the last 
or exterior, the greater part of the feather is black; beneath, the 
chin appears almost black ; next the characteristic gorget of the 
form, of a rich purplish-blue, showing various shades according to 
the position. This is succeeded by a narrow band of deep black, 
as in those species already figured by Mr. Gould ; the breast and 
sides of the belly are pure white ; the under tail-covers and flanks 
greyish-black, the same colour running up the centre of the vent. 
The entire length is 5 . i ; bill to forehead, 9 ; wing to end of 
longest feathers, 3 . 
67-2 
