CREEPER HUMMING-BIRD KING-FISHER. 349 



He is a permanent resident from Hudson's Bay to Mexico. 

 In the winter, hunger drives him from the woods into the 

 neighborhood of barns and houses. 



SITTA Canadensis, (Linn., Wil.) The red-bellied nut-hatch 

 comes to the mountain in April, returning south in October. 

 It is a smaller bird than the white-breasted nut-hatch, and 

 seems to be wild and shy, preferring the recesses of pine 

 woods as a residence. 



CREEPERS. 



CERTHIA Americana, (Linn., Wil.) The brown creeper 

 is related to the nut-hatchers, is a climber, nests in holes in 

 trees, and feeds on insects. It is a rare bird on the moun- 

 tain as elsewhere. He makes extensive wanderings, like the 

 nut-hatch, in search of food. 



HUMMING-BIRDS. 



(Family Anthomyzi, Yieill, Bon.) 



TROCHILUS Colubris, (Linn.) Ruby-throated humming- 

 bird. This is the only individual of the genus which comes 

 north. It is an exclusively American family, and very 

 extensive in numbers, there being some three hundred 

 species within the tropics. Nature seems to have sported 

 an infinite extravagance, and almost exhausted the element 

 of variety, in this group of birds. Every shape, style, tint, 

 and line, every conceivable form of dress and ornament, is 

 found in this exquisite family of brilliant eaters of nectar. 

 The ruby- throated humming-bird is the plainest of the 

 genus, although he is considered a beautiful little bird. It 

 comes to the mountain in May, leaving in September, 

 breeding there in numbers. 



KING-FISHERS. 

 HALCYON, (Alcyones, Tern.) 



CERYLE Halcyon, (Linn., Wil.) Belted king-fisher. 

 This strange, eccentric-looking bird, a regular angler, comes 



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