ORNITHOLOGY. 17 



wing-coverts, are of a uniform brilliant green ; the feathers of the throat, neck and 

 cheeks, are of a bluish or steely lustre, and have the form of scales ; the remaining 

 lower parts of the body are of a dingy white, brownish on the flanks; the tail feathers 

 are white at the base of the inner webs, brownish on the outer, and towards the tips 

 the feet are reddish. See Plate, No. 2. 



TROCHILUS COLUBRIS. 



NORTHERN HUMMING-BIRD. 



Our present species is one of the most hardy, and bears a range of temperature 

 almost from tropical heat to the rigor of an arctic latitude, having been lately ob- 

 served as far North as the plains of the Saskachawan and the banks of the Elk River. 

 It is only during summer that an excursion of such distance is made, and we find their 

 arrival, during migration, occurring at different periods, in various parts of the Canadas 

 and the United States. 



About the 25th of April, the humming bird usually arrives in Pennsylvania ; and 

 about the 10th of May begins to build its nest. In the Savanna in Georgia, it appears 

 from the South about the 23d of March, two weeks earlier than it does sixty miles 

 higher up the country. 



The Northern Humming Bird is three inches and a-half in length, and four and 

 a-quarter in extent ; the whole back, upper part of the neck, sides, under the wings, 

 tail-coverts, and two middle feathers of the tail, are of a rich golden green ; the tail 

 and wings are deep brownish purple ; the sides of the belly, and belly itself, dusky 

 white, mixed with green. But what constitutes the chief ornament of this little bird, 

 is the splendor of the feathers of his throat, which, when placed in a proper position, 

 glow with all the brilliancy of the ruby; these feathers are of singular strength and 

 texture, lying close together like scales, and vary, when moved before the eye, from 

 a deep black to a fiery crimson and a burning orange. See Plate, No. 3. 



TROCHILUS PRASINA. 



GOLDEN-GREEN HUMMING-BIRD. 



The entire length of this beautiful little bird is about two inches and eight 

 lines, of which the bill makes up seven lines, and the form is in general delicate, the 

 whole plumage, excepting the vent, is of a very deep golden-green, but with a clear, 

 brilliant, and changing lustre, occasionally of a bluish tint ; the plumes on the fore- 

 head and breast, presenting the greatest brightness, and assuming the scaly form, the 

 vent is whitish ; the wings are brownish purple, of a narrow form, and firm texture ; 

 the tail, dull indigo blue, broad and slightly rounded. See Plate, No. 4. 



TROCHILUS DELALANDH. 



DELALANDE'S HUMMING-BIRD. 



The crown of this bird is adorned with a beautiful crest, composed of short feathers, 

 with generally one narrow and elongated, which rises in the centre, to an inch in 

 length ; it is of a rich and deep blue, tipped with white, and appears very graceful, 

 either when erected, or reclining, and folded at rest, behind the eye ; upon the auric- 



