RED-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD. 151 



Red-throated Humming-Eird. Multitudes of these 

 beautiful little birds issue forth at the rising of the sun, 

 and flutter about the flowers, flying with a rapidity so 

 great, that the eye is scarcely able to follow their course. 

 And the motion of their wings is such, as to be imper- 

 ceptible to the nicest observer. They feed whilst on 

 wing, and flit from flower to flower, extracting the 

 honey from each as they pass. It is said to be extremely 

 amusing to see them swarming round the flowers, and 

 trying every tube with their slender bills. When they 

 find a flower has been robbed of its juices, they will 

 sometimes pluck it off in a rage, and throw it on the 

 ground. They are excessively passionate, and frequently 

 fight each other with the greatest fury. Their nest is 

 round, and very small, interwoven on the outside with 

 moss, and, in the interior, with the softest vegetable down 

 imaginable. The eggs are white, and each about the 

 size of a pea. 



This bird is about three inches in length. The male 

 and female differ much in appearance. The former is of 

 a green gold colour, with a changeable copper gloss on 

 the upper parts. The tail-feathers are dark brown, the 

 three side ones rusty, tipped with white. The throat is 

 flame-coloured, and the under parts of the body are grey. 

 The female is brownish ; the throat marked with a few 

 dusky spots, and the belly whitish. The Red-throated 

 Humming-Birds are found in America, and as far north 

 as some parts of Canada. 



