The SHARP-BEARDED MASKED HUMMING BIRD (_Microrhamphus oxypogon_).--"I met
with this fine species," says M. Linden, "for the first time in August,
1842, while ascending the Sierra Nevada de Merida, the crests of which are
the most elevated of the eastern branch of the Columbian Cordilleras. It
inhabits the region immediately beneath the line of perpetual congelation,
at an elevation of from 12,000 to 13,000 feet above the level of the sea;
it appears to be confined to the region between the 8th and 7th degree of
north latitude. It occasionally perches on the scattered shrubs of this
icy region, but most frequently on the projecting ledges of the rocks near
to the snow. Its flight is swift, but very short. When it leaves the spot
upon which it has been perched, it launches itself obliquely downwards,
uttering, at the same time, a plaintive whistling sound, which is also
occasionally uttered when perched; as far as I can recollect, I never
heard it produce the humming sound made by several other members of the
group, nor does it partake of their joyous spirit and perpetual activity.
Its food appears to consist of minute insects, all the specimens we
procured having their stomachs filled with small flies."
"This bird," says Gould, "is never met with at a less elevation than 9,000
feet. It might be thought that such bleak and inclement situations were
ill-adapted for so delicate a structure as that of the Humming Bird; but
there and there only does it dwell, while the equally lofty paramas of
Bogota are the native locality of the nearly-allied species, _Oxypogon
Guerini_. The minute insects which frequent the Alpine flowers of these
districts afford abundance of food to these birds, and their bills are
beautifully constructed for searching amongst the flowers in which these
are found."