ORDER MACROCHIRES 



SUBORDER TROCHILI 



Family TrochilidEe 



Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — Trochilus colubris. 

 3.70 



Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Smallest bird and only Hummer found in 

 Albany County ; upper parts bright lustrous green ; throat 

 ghstening ruby-red, the feathers resembling tiny, metallic 

 scales ; rest of plumage grayish ; violet tinge on wings and 

 tail. 



This gay Httle sprite, familiar to everyone in City or country 

 wrho owns a flower garden, is the only representative of its 

 great and beautiful family found east of the Rocky Mountains. 

 It is quite numerous throu^out its habitat, which includes 

 Albany County. But the finding of the wonderful nest, which 

 is made of silky vegetable down and covered with tiny lichens 

 imtil it resembles a knot on a branch, is such an uncommon 

 event that it is always treasured in die mind of the most 

 experienced student. I once, however, knew an old country 

 mansion, overgrown with Trumpet Creepers, wliere the lively 

 Hummers literally swarmed, and never a season passed but 



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