( 544 ) 

 RUBY-THROATED HUMMING BIRD. 



TrOCHILUS COLUBRIS, LiNN. 

 PLATE XLVII. Vol. I. p. 248. 



This interesting gem of the feathered tribe proceeds as far north 

 in summer as the 57th parallel. Dr Richardson obtained it on the 

 plains of the Saskatchewan, and Mr Drummond found its nest near 

 the sources of the Elk River. It does not occur on the Columbia River, 

 where the Nootka Humming bird is abundant. A few were seen by me 

 in Labrador, and, on the other hand, I met with it entering the United 

 States in crowds in the beginning of April, advancing eastward along 

 the shores of the Mexican Gulf. The weather having become very 

 cold one morning, many were picked up dead along the beaches, and 

 those which bore up were so benumbed as almost to suffer the members 

 of my party to take them with the hand. My friend Dr Bachman has 

 heard this species uttering a few sweet notes, sometimes when perched 

 on a twig, and at other times on wing. The eggs measure half an 

 inch in length by 4| lines in breadth. 



On depriving a specimen of this bird of its feathers, one finds its 

 proportions very different from what he may have previously imagined. 

 Thus, the body is remarkably robust, of an ovate form, much deeper 

 than broad, on account of the extreme size of the crest or keel of the 

 sternum, which is so extended as to leave for the abdomen a space not 

 more than a fifth of its own length. The feet, although very small, 

 are yet proportionally as large as those of a Cormorant ; the femur and 

 tibia being relatively large, while the tarsus is extremely short, and 

 the toes of moderate size, the anterior incapable of being widely spread, 

 and the middle or third scarcely exceeding the two lateral ; in which 

 respect the foot has some resemblance to that of the Swifts. The hind 

 toe is articulated remarkably high on the tarsus, it being placed very 

 nearly at the height of one-third of its length. The bones of the wings 

 are very short ; the humerus and cubitus extremely so, although pro- 

 portionally strong. The neck is very elongated, being 10 twelfths of 

 an inch in length, whereas the body, including the coccyx, is only 9 

 twelfths. The head is rather large, depressed in front, with a deep 



