ON HUMMING-BIRD FLOWERS . 

 By S. Graenicher. 



In tropical regions birds figure to a considerable extent as 

 visitors to a great number of flowers. Honeysuckers belonging to 

 the families Meliphagidw and Nectariniidw, and humming-birds 

 ( Trochilidw) furnish the best known examples in this respect. In 

 the temperate regions of North America east of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains the ruby-throated humming-bird, Trochilus colubris L. is 

 the only flower-visitor among the birds. 



According to numerous observations this bird has been seen 

 at quite a number of flowers of various colors, but the evidence at 

 hand indicates that it is in attendance on red flowers more than 

 on those of any other color. Robertson 1 considers the following 

 four flowers of our surroundings as being especially pollinated by 

 the ruby-throat: 



Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng. (Scarlet Painted Cup), 



Aquilegia canadensis L. (Wild Columbine), 



Impatiens biflora Walt. (Spotted Touch-me-not), 



Lobelia cardinalis (L.) Juss. (Cardinal-flower). 



A fifth species, Tecoma radicans (L.) Juss. (Trumpet-creep- 

 er), mentioned by Robertson in the same connection does not 

 occur with us. All of these flowers are distinctly red, or possess 

 at least a reddish hue. 



Around Milwaukee the ruby-throat has been witnessed as a 

 visitor to the following flowers: Lonicera Sidlivantii Gray (Sul- 

 livants Honeysuckle)!" £• tatarica L, (Tartarian Honeysuckle), 

 /.. dioica L. (Smooth-leaved Honeysuckle), L, oblongifolia 

 (Goldie) Hook. (Swamp Fly Honeysuckle), Polygonatum 

 biftorum (Walt.) Ell. (Small Solomon's Seal), P. commutatum 

 (R. & S.) Dietr. (Great Solomon's Seal), Trifolium pratense L. 

 (Red Clover), Impatiens biflora Walt. (Spotted Touch-me-not), 

 and Lobelia cardinalis L. (Cardinal-flower). 



At Maiden Rock, Pierce Co., Wis., I have seen it at the flowers 



1) Chas. Robertson, The Philosophy of Flower Seasons, Etc.; The 

 American Naturalist, Vol. XXIX (1895), p. 113. 



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