252 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



somewhat faltering notes, and ending with a short, rapid, 



rather explosive warble. 



The liubj-crowned Kinglet is a more northern bird 



in summer and a more southern bird in winter than the 



Golden-crown, rarely being found at the latter season north 



of South Carolina. Throughout the Middle States it oc- 



„ , , curs as an abundant spring and fall mi- 



Ruby-crowned . J fc* 



Kinglet gi'^nt, passing north w^ard from April 10 

 Beguius caLeiuiuia. to Maj 10 and southward between Sep- 

 Piute Lxxii. tember 20 and October 20. The Euby- 

 crown resembles the Golden -crown in habits, but is more 

 active. Females and young males lack the ruby crown- 

 patch, but their white eye-ring, impatient, wrenlike little 

 note, and manner of nervously twitching their wings are 

 characteristic. 



Taking the small size of the bird into consideration, 

 the Ruby-crown's song is one of the most marvelous vo- 

 cal performances among birds.. As Dr. Coues remarks, 

 the sound -producing organ is not larger than a pinhead, 

 and the muscles that move it are almost microscopic 

 shreds of flesh ; still, the bird's song is not only surpass- 

 ingly sweet, varied, and sustained, but is possessed of suf- 

 ficient volume to be heard at a distance of two hundred 

 yards. Fortunately, the Ruby-crown sings both on its 

 spring and fall migrations. 



Thrushes, Bluebirds, etc. (Family Turdid^.) 



On the basis of certain details of structure Thrushes 

 are generally assigned highest rank in the class Aves. 

 Without pausing to discuss the value of the characters on 

 which this classification is made, there can be no question 

 that from an aesthetic standpoint the Thrushes possess in 

 a greater degree than any other birds those qualifications 

 which make the ideal bird. There are many birds with 



