MACROCHIRES. 119 



Presumably the Swifts must rest at some time, but when 

 seems a mystery. We see them only on the wing, never 

 perched, unless it be in a chimney near or on the nest. Of 

 course their food consists entirely of flying insects captured 

 while flying. No one ever questioned the usefulness of this 

 strong-winged bird. 



SUBORDER TROCHILI. Hummingbirds. 

 Family TROCHILID^E. Hummingbirds. 



161. (428.) TROCHILUS COLUBRIS Linn. 136. 



Ruby-throated Hummingbird. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 164. 



This is the only Hummingbird which ever visits Ohio. 

 It is common all summer over the entire state, nesting either 

 near dwellings or in the woods as fancy may dictate. The 

 head contains no poison gland, so the thrust of the beak is 

 not poisonous unless the bird has just been feeding upon 

 some plant whose blossom is poisonous, 



The Hummingbird is not one of the strongest winged 

 birds, but frequently perches for rest. It has brought to per- 

 fection the art of hovering and darting as well as forward 

 flight, but cannot soar. It is a great fighter in its way, eas- 

 ily putting to rout Catbirds, Robins and Blue Jays ; not by 

 striking with either wings or beak (its feet are too small 

 and weak to be used in that way), but by hovering and danc- 

 ing close to the bird which it chooses to put to flight. The 

 buzzing, jiggling movement seems to confuse its adversary. 



The Hummer reaches our southern border about the first 

 of May, but is a week later at the lake shore. It leaves the 

 state about the middle of September, often tarrying a little 

 longer at the south. 



Probably no bird could long live upon a diet of honey 

 alone. It must certainly be true that the Hummingbird eats 

 honey, because its tongue is made that way, but it is just as 

 true that it eats insects which it finds in the blossoms with 

 the honey. It is therefore a useful bird as well as a pleasing 

 feature of our flower gardens. 



