166 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



and among our shade trees, rather than in the wild woods. 



(Chebec.) 



Length, 5;- ; wing, 2J (2|^-2|) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, = ; culmen, t%. Chiefly 

 eastern North America, west to Colorado ; breeding from Pennsylvania to 

 Quebec, and wintering in Central America. 



ORDER II. HUMMINGBIRDS, GOATSUCKERS, 

 AND SWIFTS (MACROCHIRES) 



An order containing one large American family, the Hum- 

 mingbirds, and two smaller ones of general distribution, the 

 Goatsuckers and Swifts. 



FAMILY XIX. HUMMINGBIRDS (TROCHfLID^) 



A family (400 species) of small, brightly colored, American, 

 swiftly flying birds, living mainly on the insects and nectar 

 found in flowers, which they obtain while on the wing. Their 

 movements through the air are most swift and insect-like, the 

 wings vibrating so rapidly as to be lost to the eye in a hazy 

 mist. These birds are represented by many species in Mexico 

 and South America, and several species are found west of the 

 Rocky Mountains in the United States, but only one (if south- 

 ern Texas is excluded) is to be found in the great region 

 covered by this book. Nearly all, except some tropical forms, 

 have weak, chippering, or squeaking voices. 



1. Ruby- throated Hummingbird (428. Trdchtlus cSluhris). — A 

 minute, long-billed, narrow-winged, greenish-colored bird, seen 



hovering suspended 

 over flowers or flitting 

 rapidly from plant to 

 jjlant. The male has 

 a gorget, of brilliant, 

 metallic, ruby-red ; this 

 is wanting in the fe- 

 male. The male has 

 a notched tail of narrow feathers, and the female one not 



Enby-throated Hnmmingljird 



