206 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



427. Blue-throated Hummingbird. Cosligena clemencise. 



Range. Mexico, north in summer to the border of Arizona and western New 

 Mexico. 



This species is the largest of North 'American Hummers being 5.25 inches 

 long, this being slightly larger than the preceding. As the name implies, it has 

 a patch of blue on the throat, the upper parts being a uniform* greenish; the 

 outer tail feathers are broadly tipped with white. Their nests, which are placed 

 upon the limbs of trees, are made of mosses and plant fibres covered with cob- 

 webs. The two eggs are laid during July and August, and measure .65 x .40. 



428. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Trochilus colubris. 



Range. North America east of the Plains and north to Labrador. 



This is the only rep- 

 resentative of the fam- 

 ily found east of the 

 Mississippi. It is a 

 small species, 3.5 

 inches long, with 

 greenish upper parts 

 and a bright ruby 

 throat. Its nest is as 

 beautiful, if not more 

 so, than that of any 

 other species. They 

 build their nests on 

 horizontal limbs of 

 trees at any height 

 from the ground, but 

 usually more than six 

 feet. Branches an inch 

 or more in diameter are 

 usually selected, they 

 not being particular as 

 to the kind of tree, but 

 oaks, pines and maples 



perhaps being used the most often. The nests are made of plant fibres and down, 

 and the exterior is completely covered with green lichens so that it appears like a 

 small bunch of moss on the limb. The two white eggs are laid in May or June; 

 size .50 a .35. 



429. Black-chinned Hummingbird. Trochilus alexandri. 



Range. North America west of the Rocky Mountains; north to British 

 Columbia; winters south of the United States. 



Similar in size and appearance to the Ruby-throat, but with the chin and 

 upper throat black, the rest of the throat gorget being violet!or amethyst. It is 

 an abundant species in summer in many localities, especially in the southern 

 half of its range. They build their nests at low elevations, rarely above ten feet, 

 on small branches or the fork at the end of a limb. The nests are made of 

 yellowish plant fibres and are not covered with lichens, so that they have a pe- 

 culiar spongy appearance. Eggs indistinguishable from those of the Ruby- 

 throat. Laid during April, May or June. 



