104 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



and Florida. Mr. Skinner found it a not uncommon wintei 

 occupant on the southern slope of the great Cordillera in 

 Guatemala ; and Mr. Salvin noticed its first arrival in that 

 country as earl}' as August 24. increasing quite rapidly in 

 numbers until the ist of October, when it was the most 

 common species in the vicinity of Duenas. 



In Eastern Pennsylvania, the Ruby-throat makes its ap- 

 pearance during the first week of May. seldom earlier, about 

 the time the horse-chestnut {./Esculus hippocastanum} 

 spreads its rich clusters of fragrant blossoms to the vernal 

 breezes. During some seasons it is more abundant than at 

 others. Once, as man}' as fifteen nests were taken in a scope 

 of country scarcely exceeding one mile in diameter. 



The Might of this species, which is common to the entire 

 family, is one of its peculiar characteristics. It is of two 

 kinds : a horizontal movement, which is so rapid as to 

 be scarcely followed bv the eve and which is necessarily 

 accompanied by a hissing sound ; and another, which seem- 

 ingly sustains the bod} in mid-air in an immobile state : 

 in this case, the bird assumes a nearly vertical position 

 by beating its wings with considerable intensity. In feed- 

 ing, their motions are insect-like ; they pass from bush to 

 bush, pausing before each Mower after the fashion of the 

 Sphingidtz, and with constantly vibrating wings, produce 

 the same humming sounds. 



Xo species is more decidedly 'and strictly aerial. They 

 puss with the swiftness of an arrow, stopping ever and anon 

 to rest upon a small dead twig or branch, and almost in the 

 same instant, darting oft*, one knows not whither. During 

 this brief repose, the}' dress their feathers and clean their 

 bill, all the while keeping up a continual jerking of the 

 wings and tail. 



Notwithstanding its diminutiveness, it is notorious for its 

 quarrelsome and aggressive disposition. When excited, it 

 assails with desperate fury, anything that comes in its way. 

 The Sphinxes, which are common visitors about flowers, par- 



