THE WAY TO STUDY BIRDS 



a wide blue-gray band. Female: similar, but 

 has the sides and an incomplete band across the 

 lower breast chestnut. 



Size and Shape: Length 13 inches. Very 

 thickly built; bill long and slender; tail short. 



Call: A harsh rattle. 



Seasonal Abundance: Arrives early and is 

 one of the last summer residents to depart. 

 I have even seen them at Christmas when the 

 winter was an open one. 



Remarks: Lives along the borders of inland 

 lakes, where it perches until, having sighted its 

 prey, it darts forth, capturing some fish from 

 the water, and returns with a rattling note of 

 triumph. 



30. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD 



Haunts: Flower gardens or wherever blos- 

 soms are to be found. 



Description: Metallic green above; silvery 

 white below; the male having a metallic ruby 

 throat which the female lacks. Part of wings 

 and tail dark purple; tail of the male forked, 

 while his mate's is rounded and bordered by 

 white. 



Field-marks: Long bill and bright green up- 

 per parts. 



Size and Shape: Length 3.7 inches. Bill 

 extremely long, thin and pointed. 



Seasonal Abundance: Arrives the 1st of 

 May and leaves the last of September. 



Remarks: This single Eastern species of a 

 35 



