252 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



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



rather explosive warble. 



The liuby-crowned Kinglet is a more northern bird 



in siinuner and a more southern bird in winter than the 



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



of South Carolina. Tbroughout the Middle States it oc- 



„ , , curs as an abundant sprino; and fall ini- 



Ruby-crowned . ' ^ 



Kinglet, gi'ant, passing northward from April 10 

 Biguins mUiuhiin. to May 10 and southward between Sep- 

 piate Lxxii. touiber 20 and October 20. The Kuby- 

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

 active. Females and young males lack the ruby crown- 

 patcli, 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. Cones 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 l)ird's song is not only surpass- 

 ino;ly sweet, varied, and sustained, l)ut is possessed of suf- 

 ficient volume to be heard at a distance of two hundred 

 yards. Fortunately, the liuby-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 



