LAND BIRDS. 387 
coverts and upper surface of tail, and to grayish white on the chin and throat; shafts 
of wing and tail-feathers shining black, those of the tail prolonged one-fourth to one-half 
an inch beyond the vanes of the feathers as stiff and very sharp spines; bill and feet black ; 
iris dark brown. Sexes alike in size and color, and young scarcely different. 
Length 4.75 to 5.50 inches; wing 5 to 5.25; tail 1.90 to 2.15. 
Family 49. TROCHILIDA. Hummingbirds. 
(Only one species found in Michigan.) 
176. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Archilochus colubris (Linn.). (428) 
Synonyms: Hummingbird, Common Hummingbird, Hummer, Ruby-throat.— 
Trochilus colubris, Linn. 1758, and most recent authors. 
Plate XLI. 
This, the smallest of our birds, measuring always less than four inches 
from tip of bill to tip of tail, is not likely to be mistaken for any other 
species, its metallic colors and humming flight, in connection with its 
diminutive size, rendering such an error impossible. Not infrequently, 
however, it is mistaken for one or another of our hawk-moths (Sphingide), 
or rather the moth is mistaken for the bird. 
Distribution.—Eastern North America to the Plains, north to the fur 
countries, breeding from Florida to Labrador, and south in winter to Cuba, 
Mexico and Veragua. A few individuals spend the winter in southern 
Florida. 
The Hummingbird is too well known to need description. In Michigan 
it appears with the bloom on the apple orchards, rarely before the first of 
May, often not before the 10th of the month even in the southernmost 
counties. The average in ten years at Petersburg, Monroe county, is May 
8, while at Bay City it appears nearly ten days later. It is not uncommon 
in any part of the state, but appears to be most abundant in cultivated 
districts where an abundance of bloom is to be found. It is frequently seen 
however, in the depths of the forest, and a prettier sight can hardly be 
imagined than two or three of these beautiful birds, in full spring plumage, 
visiting the brilliant blossoms of the columbine in some quiet place in 
the deep woods. 
As is well known, this bird feeds largely upon the nectar of flowers, but 
it undoubtedly eats numberless small insects at the same time. These 
have been found in considerable numbers in its stomach, and it has been seen 
to capture plant lice, small spiders, and numerous other small insects, 
while Professor Aughey records finding four small locusts in the stomach 
of one taken in Nebraska in June 1875. Nevertheless it seems probable 
that its principal food is the nectar of flowers and other sweet vegetable 
juices. It visits the bark punctures made by the Sapsucker, drinking the 
sweet sap with avidity, and in autumn it sucks the sweet juices from 
bruised or injured fruits, particularly pears, although there is no reason to 
suppose that it ever attacks sound fruit of any kind. — 
The nest is one of the daintiest built by birds and is usually so skilfully 
placed and so carefully covered with lichens, moss, cobwebs and other 
materials as to be readily taken for a knot or excrescence on the branch of 
a tree, so that it is not easily discovered. The bird generally selects a 
more or less horizontal branch, at no great height above the ground and 
