OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. ig5 



below white, the sides green ; wings and tail dusky-purplish. The female 

 lacking the gorget ; the throat white; the tail somewhat double-rounded, 

 with black bars, and the outer feathers white-tipped. Length, 3J ; wing, i§ ; 

 bill, §. 



Hab. Eastern North America to the Plains, north to the Fur Countries, 

 and south, in winter, to Cuba and Veragua. 



Nest, a beautiful specimen of bird, architecture, usually placed on the 

 horizontal branch of a tree in the orchard ; composed of gray lichens, lined 

 with the softest plant down. 



Eggs, 2 ; pure white, blushed with pink while fresh. 



The Hummingbirds begin to arrive towards the middle of 

 May, and by the end of the month when the hlacs are in bloom 

 they are quite nimierous. About this time many pass on to 

 breed farther north, while others engage in the same occupation 

 here. 



In September they again become common, showing a 

 strong liking for the impatiens fulva, or wild balsam, which 

 grows abundantly in moist places, and later they crowd about 

 the bignonia or trumpet-creeper. This is a late flowering 

 plant, and the tiny birds, as though loth to leave it, are seen as 

 late as the middle of September rifling it of its sweets. 



There are about sixteen different species of Hummingbirds 

 now known as North American, but this is the only one found 

 east of the Mississippi River. Though small it is very 

 pugnacious, often attacking birds much larger than itself who 

 may venture near its nest. On such occasions it produces an 

 angry buzzing sound with its wings, but it has no voice save a 

 weak chirp, like a cricket or grasshopper. 



Order PASSERES. Perching Birds. 



Suborder CLAMATORES. Songless Perching Birds.. 



Family TYRANNID^. Tyrant Flycatchers. 



Genus MILVULUS Swainson. 



174. MILVULUS FORFICATUS (Gmel.). 448. 



Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. 



First primary alone emarginate ; crown patch, orange or scarlet. Hoary 

 ash, paler or white below, sides at the insertion of the wings scarlet or blood- 



