ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS 225 



often transients to and from more northern breeding grounds. 

 Should this be correct, it is the reverse of the usual rule in 

 this territory, namely, that locally breeding individuals are 

 the first to arrive. 



To cite this bird's exact status in all the local areas would 

 be useless repetition. 



Long Island. The extreme dates are April 21, 1908 at Orient 

 (Roy Latham) to October 18. 



New York State. Earliest date April 19, 1914 in Central 

 Park (Griscom); latest, October 23 at Ossining (Fisher). 



New Jersey. Earliest date, April 16, 1922 near Elizabeth 

 (Urner); latest October 11, 1914 at Newton, Sussex Co. (Hix). 



Photograph by A. A. Allen 



Fig. 21. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 



RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris) Fig. 21 

 The Hummingbird is unique, and cannot be confused with 

 any other of our local birds. Sphinx or hummingbird moths 

 are, however, often mistaken for it. The tiny body lodges a 

 strong personality, which is afraid of absolutely nothing, and 

 is subject to frequent outbreaks of bad temper, often on very 

 slight provocation. It is a common summer resident in the 

 more rural and country districts of our area, scarce or absent 

 near New York City. Breeding birds arrive around May 9 

 arid depart about September 15. The migration of transients 



