XIII 



THE HUMMINGBIRD 



HUMMINGBIRDS are found only in America 

 and on the islands near it. They are of many 

 kinds, but only one kind is ever seen in the east- 

 ern United States. This is known as the ruby- 

 throated hummingbird, because of a splendid red 

 throat-patch worn by the male. To speak more 

 exactly, the patch is red only in some lights. 

 You see it one instant as black as a coal, and the 

 next instant it flashes like a coal on fire. This 

 ornament, a real jewel, with the lovely 

 shining green of the bird's back, makes him an 

 object of great beauty. 



Every one knows him, or would do so only 

 that some people confuse him with bright-colored, 

 long-tongued hummingbird moths that are seen 

 hovering, mostly in the early evening, over the 

 flowers of the garden. 



The ruby-throat spends the winter south of 

 the United States. He arrives in Florida in 

 March, but does not reach New England till near 

 the middle of May. 



