4r)0 XORTII AMKIUCAN lUUDS. 



in (leptli ami l.lT) inches in breath li. It is of very homogeneous con- 

 struction, tlie material of whicli it i.> nuuKi being abnost exchisively a sub- 

 stance of vegetabh» origin, resembhng wool, coarse in fibre, but solt, warm, 

 and vieldiui:, <»f Ji dee]> bntf cohn. This is strengtlumed, on the outside, by 

 various small woody til»res ; the whole, on the outer surface, entirely an«l 

 compactly covered by a thatching of sniiill lichens, a species oi rarnidia. 



A nest olttained in Lynn, Mass., by Mr. Cleorge O. Welch, in June, 18G0, 

 was laiilt on a horizontal l)ranch of an a])ple-tree. In measures 1.50 inches 

 in heigiit, and '1:17) in its external diameter. The cavity is more shallow, 

 measuring .7t> nf an inch in depth and 1.00 in diameter. It is LUjually 

 homogeneous in its composition, l)eing made of very similar materials. In 

 tliis case, however, the soft woolly material of which it is woven is liner in 

 fibre, softer and nun-e silky, and of the purest white coh)r. It is strength- 

 ened on the base with ])ieces of bark, and on the sides with fine vegetable 

 fibres. Tlie whole nest is beautifully covered with a compact coating of 

 lichens, a species of rarmilia, but different fronr those of the Georgian nest. 



The tine silk-like sub.stance of wliich the nest from Lynn is chiefly com- 

 posed is supi)osed to be the soft down which appears on the young and 

 unex[)andcd leaves of the red-oak, innnediately before tiieir full develop- 

 ment. The buds of several of the oaks are fitted for a climate liable to 

 severe winters, by l)eing protecte<l by s«'parate downy scales surrounding 

 each leaf. In Massachusetts the red-oak is an abundant tree, expands its 

 leaves at a convenient season for the Ilumming-Iiird, and these soft silky 

 scales which have fulfilled their mission of protection to the embryo leaves 

 are turn-nl to a good account by our tiny and watchful architect. The spe- 

 cies in Georijia evidentlv make use of similar materials from one .>f tl 

 southern oaks. 



The eggs measure .50 by .35 of an inch, and are of a pure dull w'lr'te. 



Trochilus alexandri, Bnunc. & ^Iilsant. 



BLACK-CHINNED HTJMMIN0-6IRD. 



Trochilus a/exfivdrf, I^oi'i:* iKii & Mi'lsant, Ann. «!»' hi Soc. d'Aijrric. dc Lyons, IX, 184^, 

 ;i:?0. — IIkkiimann, Jour. A. N. So. Plula. '2d st r. II, 18.".:3, 269. -Cas.sin, 111. X. 

 Am. lUitls, I, V, 18.'>4, 141, i>l. xxii. — (Jiti'LP, Mon. Troi'liili<la\ xiv, Sopt. 1857, 

 l.lato. — Baiki), lUrds X. Am. 1S:»8, 133, i.l. .xliv, f. 3. — In. M. B. II, Birds, iS, i»l. 

 V, f. 3. IIf.kum. X, S, 50. -CooPKn, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 353. 



Sp. CfiAR. Vi'i"." similar to Trtfchiltis mhihris Tail s^iLrlitly forknl ; the i-liiii and upper 

 part ol" the throat opaque velvety-Mack, without nietallic^ ri'dections. \vhi<-li are couHned 

 to the po.-<torior bortlej- of the jroriret. and ore violet, souictimos chaniiin<r to .«toel Idue or 

 jrroen, in.^tead of eopperv-re<l. f-^'mfifr without the nu'tallie .scales; the tail-feathers 

 tipped with white: tin* tail irraduated. not emaririnated ; the iiuierniost feather anioniT the 

 lou'j-est. Lentrth of male, .3.30; wintr. 1.70; tail, V2C}; hill. .7'). 



llffh. Coast of California, southward, ami east to tlu^ Wahsateh and rintah Mountains, 

 Ttah. 



