176 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



portions of the State and a few days later in the northern counties. In the 

 fall the last birds are usually seen from the ist to the 12th of September 

 in the northern counties and from the 20th to the 30th of September in 

 the warmer portions of the State. As with most species of birds, the males 

 usually precede the females several days in the spring migration, but mated 

 pairs are usually found by the 20th to the 25th of May and the building of 

 the nest often begins as early as the 30th of the month. 



Habits. Everyone knows the Ruby-throated hummingbird, which 



Photo by Clarence F. Stone 

 Ruby-throated hummingbird's nest and eggs 



is the only species of this family that visits the eastern United States. 

 It comes familiarly to the cultivated flowers on the window sill, the 

 honeysuckles which climb the trellises beside porches, and the trumpet 

 flowers which grow beside the door of the country home. It visits every 

 flower bed when in bloom, and almost all the blossoming trees, especially 

 apple trees — and the red buckeye more than any other species. Frequently 

 as many as a dozen hummingbirds may be seen about a red buckeye when 

 it is in full bloom. In late summer the swamp thistle is a great favorite 

 mth the hiimmers. There is no doubt that hummingbirds visit flowers 



