e adorned with
two beautiful little creatures, well called "Hill Stars;" and it is
curious that the hill star of Chimborazo never visits Pichincha, nor
does the latter ever approach Chimborazo. They are very like each
other; but while that of Chimborazo has a triangular green spot upon the
throat, it is wanting in the Pichincha hill star. The colour of the
upper part of the Chimborazian hill star is of a somewhat dark
olive-green, except the wings, which are of a purple-brown tint. The
under parts are white; but they deepen into a dusky black upon the under
tail-coverts. The head and throat are of the most glorious blue, with
the exception of the before-mentioned emerald-green patch on the centre
of the throat, which is of a triangular form, one angle pointing
upwards. It has a broad collar of velvety black round the neck, the
dark hues of the head contrasting curiously with the dark body. In the
tail there are two white feathers, edged with greenish-black. The hen
is of a more sombre hue, having an olive-green head, and the throat
white, spotted with green.

THE SAPPHO COMET.

Proceeding southwards, we find numerous beautiful humming-birds in
Bolivia. Among them is the sappho comet, or bar-tailed humming-bird.
In winter it descends into the lowlands of Peru, among the abodes of
men, visiting their gardens and orchards with perfect fearlessness. The
larger part of the plumage is of a light green, the lower portion of the
back a deep crimson-red. The throat is metallic green, and the wings
are purple-brown. The base of the tail is brown, but the greater part
is of a fiery hue, tipped with velvety black.

As it darts from flower to flower--now describing a circle, now turning
and performing numberless other evolutions--the eye is unable to follow
it, and it is lost to sight, until it again returns to the flower which
at first attracted its attention.

On arriving at its winter abode, it takes up its residence in the
shrubberies and gardens of the Indian cottages, says Mr Bonelli. The
hill-side of the neighbouring country, clothed with the indigenous trees
and shrubs, also affords it a fit place of abode, whence it descends
several times a day to the cultivated plains below, particularly to the
fields of maize and pulse, and other leguminous plants. The rich
flowers of the large cacti are also frequently visited, as they afford
it a constant and abundant supply of insect food.

The nest is a somewhat loo