CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 75 



tail. It is found in North America : it sings tolerably well, 

 and feeds on insects and the seeds of thistles. 



§ 300. The Baltimore Oriole (Oriolus Baltimore) is 

 seven inches long, of a black color, intermixed with yel- 

 low, and is found during the winter in South, and in the 

 summer in North America. 



\ 301. The Baltimore Oriole is also called the Hanging- 

 bird, on account of its skill in making a hanging nest, and 

 is distinguished for its fine singing and beautiful plumage. 

 Its food consists of caterpillars, beetles, and bugs. 



\ 302. The Red-winged Starling (Sturnus prcedatorius) 

 is nine inches long, of a glossy-black color, with a scarlet 

 spot on the wings, and is found in large flocks in the 

 United States. 



§ 303. The Red-winged Starlings are the most useful 

 birds in the summer months, feeding as they do exclu- 

 sively on insects. They are, however, afterwards the most 

 notorious corn-thieves ; which injury is compensated for 

 by the use made in the fall of their delicious flesh as food. 



\ 304. The Ruby-tliroated Humming-bird (Trochilus 

 Colubris) is three inches long; of a golden-green above ; 

 neck red like a ruby, gray below ; tail purple-red. It is 

 an inhabitant of the tropics of America, and is the only 

 Humming-bird which goes in the summer as far as 

 Canada. 



\ 305. The Ruby-throated Humming-bird builds its lit- 

 tle nest with the wool of mullen and milk-weed, and lays 

 two eggs as large as peas, which it hatches in two weeks. 



\ 306. All the different species of Humming-birds are 

 natives of the tropics of America. Their food consists of 

 very small beetles and other insects, which they take from 

 the bottoms of blossoms, and not of the honey found in 

 flowers. 



QUESTIONS ON SECT. XV. 



§ 279. Describe Warblers. 



§ 280. Describe the injury they do. 



§ 281. Describe the benefit they are to us. 



§ 282. At what time is it injurious to shoot them? 



§ 283. When can their flesh be made use of? 



§ 284. In what manner can they be caught? 



§ 285. Why are they kept hi cages? 



