46 
NEW-YORK FAUNA-BIRDS. 
The Kingfisher breeds in this State, where he is a resident during nearly the whole year. 
I have seen him on the south side of Long island in the month of December, and as early as 
the beginning of March. Their nests are excavated in dry sandy banks, to the depth of five 
or six feet, enlarged at the end: they lay 4 - 6 white unspotted eggs. Their food consists 
mainly of small fish, which they swallow whole, casting up the scales, bones and indigestible 
parts in the form of pellets. It ranges from Mexico to the 68th parallel of north latitude, 
and is peculiar to this continent. It has been arranged by Boie under the genus Ceryle, with 
the characters of which I am not acquainted. 
FAMILY TIIOCIIILID/E. 
Bill elongate, awl-shaped, slender, straight or slightly arched, flexible, pointed at tip. 
Nostrils linear, with a membranous flap above. Feet short. Tarsus very short, annu¬ 
late!, naked or half feathered. Tail of ten or twelve feathers. The inner toe united at 
the base to the middle one; hind toe articulated high on the tarsus. Tongue long, exten¬ 
sile, ending in two filaments. The first or second primaries longest. Plumage often 
brilliant. Diminutive in size. 
Obs. This family is at present separated into three genera. Although more than one hun¬ 
dred species are described from America, yet we have in this State but one species, and that 
belongs to the 
GENUS TROCHILUS. Linnasus. 
Bill long, slender, depressed at the base, cylindrical. Ridge of the upper mandible narrow 
at the base, convex beyond, and covering the lower mandible, which has a very acute 
ridge. Head small. Middle toe scarcely longer than the rest. Wings very long and 
narrow ; first quill longest. Tail nearly even, of ten feathers. 
THE RED-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD. 
Trochilus colubris. 
PLATE XL. FIG 87 (Male and female). 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Trochilus colubris, Linn. 12 ed. p. 191. Red-throated Honeysucker , Penn. Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p.286. 
Humming-bird. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 26, pi. 10, figs. 3 and 4. 
T. colubris. Audubon, folio, pi. 47; Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 248, and Vol. 5, p. 544. Nuttall, Manual Ornithol. 
Vol. 1, p. 589, figure. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 323. 
Ruby-tliroated Iiummiug-bird. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 4, p. 190. 
T. colubris . Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 169. 
Characteristics. Golden green ; throat ruby-colored. Tail notched, black ; its three outer 
feathers rusty white at the tips. Female: throat white. Length, 3.^ 
inches. 
