294 THE FEATTIEKEl) TRIBES. 



deepest lake, and in others of a brilliant ruby colour tinted with golden ; on the lower 

 surface the golden lustre is most prevalent above the deep shade and ruby tint ; the 

 gorget is alternately of a topaz-yellow or emerald green, and it is surrounded by a shade 

 of nearly ^•elvet-black, which gradually assumes a purjole tint, and shades into the colour 

 of the body ; the ^N-ings are ver^^ long and jDowerful ; the tail is above of a golden-green, 

 shaded with red, below of a bright chestnut ; in form it is rather rounded, and the two 

 centre feathers make it aj^pcar sometimes very lengthened, sometimes forked, according 

 to their position ; the tarsi are feathered to the division of the toes. 



The female is somewhat less than the young males ; the centre tail-feathers are slighth* 

 larger ; the jjrcvailing colour of the plumage is blight emerald green, with metallic 

 lusti'e, but which is somewhat diminished by a graj"- tint which pervades the whole ; the 

 gorget is marked by brown feathers, which have a golden lustre when placed in the light, 

 but is not very distinctly defined ; the outer tail-feathers are of a dull green, the next 

 pair are of a brilliant \'iolet, the others of a bright chestnut. 



The young have not the long feathers in the tail, the two c-entre plumes of which 

 exceed the othei's by about one-eighth of an inch ; the plumage of the ujiper parts is of 

 a bright green, ^vith the rub\' tints appearing at intervals ; the under part has more of 

 the rod colour, and is shaded with green and bright orange ; the gorget is not yet 

 apparent, but tlie space for it is clearly seen. 



THE KUBY-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD.* 



Mr. Abbot, of Savannah, in Georgia, whose observations in reference to natural 

 history subject.s in that country have been careful and long-continued, states that the 

 humming-bird of the United States makes its first appearance there from the south 

 towards the close of March. As it passes on to the north, and to the interior of Canada, 

 where it is found in great numbers, it traverses extensive regions of lakes and forests, 

 which are thronged with enemies far its superior in magnitude and strength ; yet it 

 finds protection in its very minuteness, in the rapidity of its flight, which almost eludes 

 the eye, and in that admirable instinct and daring courage by which it is characterised. 

 In these we perceive the reason why an all- wise ProA-idence has made this little hero an 

 exception to the I'ule which prevails most generally, — that the smallest species of a tribe 

 are the most prolific. The eagle lays one and sometimes two eggs ; the crow five ; the 

 small European wren fifteen ; and the humming-bird only two ; and yet it is immeasur- 

 ablj^ more numerous in America than is the wi'eu in Europe. 



Towards the close of April the hunrming-bird usually arrives in Pennsylvania, and 

 about the 10th of !May proceeds to build its nest. This is generally fixed on the upper 

 side of a horizontal branch, though cases are recorded in wliich it has been attacliecl hv 

 the side of an old moss-grown trunk, or to a strong rank stalk or weed in a garden ; l)ut 

 such cases are rare. If it builds in the woods, it very often chooses a white oak sajjling 

 on which to rest the nest ; while in the orchard or garden, a ixnir-tree answer.s tlu' same 

 purpose. The nest is about an inch wide and deep. In one which has been cora])l(•t^l^■ 

 finished with the best materials, it ^vill probably be found that the outward coat is fdinud 

 of .small pieces of the licht^n that grows on old trees and fences, glued togetliei- with a 

 saliva which the bird exudes, which gives firmness and consistency to tlie whole, and 

 serves also to exclude moisture. Within this are thick matted layers of the wings of 

 certain flying seeds, which is, jx'rhaps, lined with some downy materials supplied by 

 other plants. The ba.so of the nest is continued round the stem of the brancli to wliich 

 it closely adheres ; and when viewed from below, appears as a mere mossy knot or 



* Trncliilns CdluliriH. — A\'ilNoii. 



