PASSERES — TROCHILID^E — TROCHILUS. 47 



Description. Bill, straight, somewhat dilated near the tip. First primary longest, reach- 

 ing nearly to the tail,- which is deeply cmarginate (Audubon describes it as even). 



Color. Above light green, with metallic reflections. Primaries and lateral tail-feathers 

 dusky black. Beneath greyish white mixed with green. Throat and breast in the male 

 resplendent ruby or flame-colored, varying into dusky orange, according to the light in which 

 it is held. Female, without the brilliant throat mark, greyish beneath ; the lateral tail- 

 feathers broadly banded with black, tipped with white. Young, dull whitish beneath ; the 

 tail tipped with white. 



Length, 3-2-3-5. 



This is the smallest species of bird occurring in this State, and, in particularly warm 

 seasons, it is found here in great numbers. It reaches the southern parts of the State about 

 the commencement of May, and almost immediately begins to construct its ^Te*st, which is 

 usually placed on the upper side of a limb, and coated with moss or lichens, in order to 

 make it resemble the tree to which it is attached. It lays two white unspotted eggs. It 

 feeds on the sweet juices of flowers, and, according to the observations of Wilson, undoubt- 

 edly destroys small insects. It is active and fearless, entering out-houses and dwellings. In 

 one instance a humming-bird flew into my hall, and was captured. It appeared as if dead, 

 and while the children were busily engaged in examining it, it suddenly darted away, ap- 

 parently uninjured. The Humming-bird ranges from Mexico to 57° north, where it even 

 breeds. It leaves us for the south about the beginning October, and sometimes even earlier. 

 In common with the whole family, it is peculiar to America. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



T. rufus. (Audubon, fol. pi. 379.) Head rich green and gold ; back rust-color. Primaries deep blue. 



Feathers on ihe neck elongated into a rufE California. 

 T. mango. (Id. fol. pi. 184.) Neck and breast velvet-black, margined with emerald-green. Female, 



same parts white, with a longitudinal streak of black. Florida Keys. 

 T. anna. (Id. Birds of America, Vol. 4, pi. 252, p. 188.) Head, cheeks and throat blood-red changing 



to red; above glossy green. Rocky Mountains. 



