182 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 
somewhat faltering notes, and ending with a short, rapid, 
rather explosive warble. 
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a more northern bird 
in summer and a more southern bird in winter than the 
Golden-crown, rarely being found at tlie latter season north - 
of South Carolina. Throughout the Middle States it oc- 
Ruby-crowned curs as an abundant spring and fall mi- 
Kinglet, grant, passing northward from April 10 
Regulus calendula. to May 10 and southward between Sep- 
Plate LXXI- tember 20 and October 20. The Ruby- 
crown resembles the Golden-crown in habits, but is more 
active. Females and young males lack the ruby crown- 
patch, but their white eye-ring, impatient, wrenlike little | 
note, and manner of nervously twitching their wings are 
characteristic. 
Taking the small size of the bird into consideration, 
the Ruby-crown’s song is one of the most marvelous vo- 
cal performances among birds. As Dr. Coues remarks, 
the sound-producing organ is not larger than a pinhead, 
and the muscles that move it are almost microscopic 
shreds of flesh ; still, the bird’s song is not only surpass- 
ingly sweet, varied, and sustained, but is possessed of suf- 
ficient volume to be heard at a distance of two hundred 
yards. Fortunately, the Ruby-crown sings both on its 
spring and fall migrations. 
THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. (FAMILY TURDID2.) 
On the basis of certain details of structure Thrushes 
are generally assigned highest rank in the class Aves. 
Without pausing to discuss the value of the characters on 
which this classification is made, there can be no question 
that from an eesthetic standpoint. the Thrushes possess in 
a greiter degree than any other birds those qualifications 
which make the ideal bird. There are many birds with _ 
