302 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



wood peckers,* but sliow little affinity to the other picarian 

 groups. They are characterized as follows : bill deepest at 

 the base (?), with upper outline convex, and the lower con- 

 caA'e ; toes ai'ranged in pairs ; tail-feathers ten ; feathers above 

 the tarsus long and flowing. 



The cuckoos are insectivorous, and eat great numbers of 

 caterpillars ; but unfortunately they often rob the nests of other 

 birds, though not, like the European cuckoos, parasitic. On 

 account of their peculiar notes, however, they have been called 

 "Cow-birds." They are migratory but not gregarious. They 

 build rude and frail nests, of sticks or the like, in a bush or 

 tree, and lay several bluish or greenish eggs, often at irregular 

 intervals. 



I. TROCHILUS 



(A) cOLUBRis. Ruby-throated Hummingbird.^ 

 (A summer-resident throughout New England.) 

 (a). About 3|^ inches long. Golden green above; white 

 beneath. Wings and tail, brownish-purple. ^ , with the 

 sides green, and the throat metallic, reflecting ruby-red. Tail 

 simply forked. 9 , with the tail slightly forked, and "double- 

 rounded," more or less black-barred, and, on the outer feathers, 

 white-tipped, 



{b). The Hummingbird's nest ma}^ be considered a perfect 

 type of bird-architecture, and, as such, is one of the most 

 beautiful objects in nature, though composed of simple mate- 

 rials, gathered chiefly from weeds, and though constructed by 

 but a single instrument. Had not man ideal in art, his works 

 could not be favorably compared with such a production as 

 this. "What enlightened person," says an anonymous writer, 

 whom I have already quoted, "can gaze upon this nest without 

 regretting that man should in the progress of civilization so 

 often forget nature, fail to appreciate her, or even wrong her?" 



SA " Linnde's Emerald" {Argytira maculata) "was captured by Mr. William 

 Brewster, at Cambridge, in August, 18(i-t; it was moulting, and ai)i)arenlly a 

 female." Though this bird mny actually have wandered here from its home in 

 South America, yet such an incident is not likely to occur again. 



