RVBV-THROATEn HLJMMiyo lURJ). '^^' 



Adult femnlc. Lacks the red tliroat nf tlu; m:!!.-^. The tail i« tipped with white and i«; rnunded. The sides are n.it a'- 

 .iTeenish andsliciw traces of rufbus, ot'ierwise. similar. 



Youjiij male. Quite bronzy above, with the fstithcrs of the throat sliowinir darker centei-s and occasionally a rul'.y 

 feather with tlie metallio luster. The sid;s show some greenish but this is underlined and overwashed with rufous. The 

 tail feathers are tipped with white as in the ffluiale but they are narrower, yet tlie tail is not forked as in the adult. 



Younij female. Similar to the j'oung male but the feathers of the throat show grayish cental's; the white is not as 

 clear, especially on the breast where it is quite grayish , anil t!ie sides are also grayish overwashed with rufnus. The feath- 

 ers of the top of the head are overwashed with rufius. 



Ncsllinys. Are born naked and pass dii-ectly into the next plumage without a moult or any inteniK^diate downy stage. 

 Bill and feet, blaek in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is but little variation in plumage in specimens of the same age and sex yet the bill varies considerably in length 

 and breadth. The males of the first year undergo a partial miult in the spring and gradually a-Jsume the f )rked tail and 

 ruhy gorget of the mature stage; thus those that I obtained at Key West exhibit all the transitional stages between the 

 two plumages. Distributed during suiiinier throughout Eastern North America, south to Floriila. Wintci's at Key West 

 and in South America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



.\veragc measurements of nineteen specimens from New England and Florida. Lenglli, ^-.W; stretch, ■I'.'i": wing, 1'75; 

 (ail, I'Oll; bill, •7(i; tai-sus, '17. Longest specimen, S'S."); greatest c.xtentol wing, •1'75; longest wing, TUd; tail, r09; bill, 

 •fi.'!; larsu-;,"-'0. Sliortest sjiv'.ciiucu, .'i'O"; siiiiillcst extent of wing, 4"00; shortest wing, r.W: tail, ill); bill, .'id; tai-sus, -15. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EtJGS. 



Ncsl.i, placed in trees or bushes, com|3osed of the moss from ferns neatly and smoothly covered with lichens whieh are 

 kept in position by eohwohs. Dimensions, external diameter, 1'50, internal, I'OI). External cle))th, l'2!>, internal, '7'). 



Eyijs, two in number, elliptical in form, j)ure whit^; in color, unpolislicil and uusp^iltud. Dimensions from '4.5 x •S.'i to 

 ■50X-35. 



ll.MUTS. 



I ilo iKtf, think that there are any liinls whieli liave re(3eiveil .so much attention iVoni 

 authors as the Rul)y-throatc(l Ilanimers, for they were among the first of tlie family to be 

 l.)rought into notice and were observed by (n'ery one who was in tlie least inclined to regard 

 natural objects. This is not surprising for no one can well avoid admiring tlicse graceful, 

 litde birds, and the matter whicli has lieen written upon their hal)its, both by scientilii; 

 ami popular autliors, would till vidinnes. I shall, therefore, be sp;ired the trouble of say- 

 ing much wliicii has not onl}' already l)eiMi said, but which has been reiterated until it is 

 perfectly familiar to e\'(!ry on(.'; thus 1 sh:dl only present the salient points of their history 

 its I have observed them. 



Just as soon as the cherry trees of New j^ngland l)egin to .show their snowy blossoms, 

 tite buzz of the Humming Birds may be heard and the gleam of their ruby throats maybe 

 seen glancing through the foliage. At first, only the more Itrilliant males ap[iear but they 

 are soon followed by their duller colored but no less lively mates, ;ind then we hear the 

 low tw'ittering which, though given in dillerent keys, is the only note which these pygmies 

 can utter. I say that the key can bo varied, by this 1 nuian that when the Ruby-throats 

 are enraged, and this is easily accomplished for it will be difficult to fiml nnu'e irascible 

 l)irds, Ihev will t^nit their S(pu!ak louder, more rapidly, and in a sharper tone. This is 

 especially noticeable when a rival male presents himself and endeavors to feed on a tree 

 that is occupied by another. The instant they catch sight of each other, without any pre- 

 liminary skirmishing, tlic}' dash together and a furious conflict ensues, not only of blows 



