3 6 HUMMINGBIRD 



Ellyn, common's. R., Apl. 16-Sept. 29. SE. Minn., common 

 S. R., Apl. 20-Sept. 18. 



A twittering courser of evening skies who makes his 

 home in our chimneys. Here the bracket-like nest of 

 dead twigs is attached to the bricks by the bird's saliva, 

 to be loosened, at times, after heavy rains and fall to 

 the fire-place below. In the fall great flocks roost in 

 chimneys, generally large ones, returning night after 

 night. 



The 4-6 white eggs are laid in May. 



HUMMINGBIRDS. FAMILY TROCHILIDiE 

 •' RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD 



Archilochus colubris. Case 7, Figs. 4, 3 



Females and young lack the 'ruby' throat. 



Range. Eastern North America, nesting from Florida to 

 Quebec; winters from central Florida to Panama. 



Washington, common S. R., Apl. 23-Oct. 23. Ossining, com- 

 mon S. R., Apl. 30-Oct. 3. Cambridge, very common T. Vij 

 uncommon S. R., May 10— Sept. 20. N. Ohio, common S. R., 

 May i-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, rare S. R., May I-Sept. 22. SE. 

 Minn., common S. R., May 10-Oct. 8. 



Any Hummingbird seen east of the Mississippi may, with 

 confidence, be called a Ruby-throat; exceptions will prob- 

 ably prove to be sphinx moths, which, it must be con- 

 fessed, look singularly hummingbird-like as they hover 

 before flowers. When the eggs are laid the male deserts 

 the female, leaving to her the task of incubation and care 

 of the young. 



The nest, most exquisite of bird homes, is saddled to a 

 limb usually 15 or more feet up. The two bean-like 

 white eggs are laid in May, 



