-(; XOHTII AMRIilCAX lilliDS. 



nesting, and distribution during the breeding-season of the Ruby-crowned 

 Kinglet. It is I'uuiid, at varying periods, in all parts of North America, 

 from Mexico to the shores of the Arctic seas, and from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific ; and, although its breeding-places are not known, its occurrence in 

 the more northern latitudes, fnjiii Maine to the extreme portions of the conti- 

 nent, during the season of rejiroduction, indicate i)retty certainly its extended 

 disti'ibution througliout all the forests from the 44th parallel northward. 

 None of our American ornithologists are known to have met with either its 

 eggs or its nest, but we may reasonably infer th.it its nest is pensile, like 

 that of its European kindred, and irom Ijeing suspended from the higher 

 branches, from its peculiar structure and jiosition has thus far escaped 

 observation. 



In the New England States they are most abundant in tlie months of 

 October and April. A few probably remain in the thick evergreen woods 

 throughout the winter, and in th(! northc^rn parts of Maine they are occasion- 

 ally found in the summer, and, without doulit, breed there. In the damp 

 swampy woods of the islands in the I'ay of Fundy, the writtu' beard llieir 

 remarkable song resounding in all directions thnnigliout the month of June. 



The song of this bird is by far tiie most remarkaljle of its .specific pecu- 

 liarities. Its notes are clear, resonant, and high, and constitute a prolonged 

 series, varying from the lowest tones to the highest, terminating with the 

 latter. It may be heard at quite a distance, and in some respects bears 

 more resemblance to the song of the Ihiglish Skylark than to that of the 

 Canary, to which Mr. Audidion compares it. 



Their food apjjcars to be chiefly the smaller insects, in pursuit of which 

 they are very active, and at times appear to be .so absorbed in their avocation 

 as to be unmindful of the near presence of the sportsman or collector, and 

 unwarned by the sound of the deadly gun. They are also said by Wilson 

 to feed upon the stamens of the liio.ssoms of the majde, the apple, peach, and 

 other trees. Like the other species, they are expert insect-takers, catcliing 

 them readily on the wing. They are chiefiy to be met with in the spring 

 among the tree-tops, where the insects they prefer abound among the 

 expanding buds. In the fall of the year, on tlieir r(4urn, they are more 

 connnonly met witii among lower branches, and among l)uslies near the 

 ground. 



Although presumed to be chiefly resident, during the sununer montlis, 

 of high northern regions, Wilson met with specimens in I't^nnsylvania 

 during tlie breeding-season ; and il is (juite probable that they may occur, 

 here and there, among the high valleys in the midst of mountain ranges, 

 in difJ'erent parts of the country. 



In the winter it is most abundant in the Gulf States, and esitecially in 

 that of Louisiana. Dr. Woodhouse found it quite abundant througliout 

 Texas, New Mexico, and the Indian Territory. Dr. Cooper found it in 

 M'^a.shington Territory, but did not there meet with it in summer. Dr. 



