girds," in classing the Hummingbirds 

 east the Mississippi into two distinct 

 species: one the Ruby-throat and the 

 other the Emerald or Green-backed 

 Hummingbird. He evidently con- 

 founded the male and female of the 

 Ruby-throats into two different species. 

 In regard to the Emerald variety he says: 

 "The Emerald Hummingbird resembles 

 the old female of the Ruby-throat, or 

 Scarlet-throat, as we have called it from 

 the predominance of that blazing hue in 

 the changing splendor of its throat! 

 The Green birds resemble, also, the 

 young female of the Ruby-throat and 

 hence the confusion." He continues: 

 "The female of all Hummingbirds is the 

 largest." Well in the matter of size, I 

 found the difference to be this: the fe- 

 male of the Ruby-throat is of the same 

 size of the male of the Green, while the 

 female of the Green is nearly one-third 

 larger. The throat of the male of the 

 Green is always a pure, clear white, 

 while the plumage of the back is darker 

 and more resplendent green." I do not 

 see why a man who has made a life- 

 study of birds should make such a 

 mistake. Davie in his work, "Nest and 

 Eggs of N. A. Birds," says that the 

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the 

 only Hummingbird that comes east of 

 the Mississippi, and if any more has 

 ever ventured across this great river 

 some one else would have seen them 

 besides Mr. Webber. From all facts, we 

 evidently believe, that he made two 

 species out of the male and female of the 

 Ruby-throats. 



There are eleven varieties of Hum- 

 mingbirds, ten of which live principally 

 west of the Rocky Mountains, and are 

 never seen on this side of the Mississippi. 

 But the one that ventures to this local- 

 ity, far exceeds all the rest in its mag- 

 nificent costume of beautiful colors ar- 

 tistically blending with its miniature 

 form. Who does not feel a thrill of de- 

 light on seeing it darting hither and 

 thither among the flowers, which are 



already wet witli glistening jewels, de- 

 posited in the night by a fairy like hand? 

 What a delight we feel in seeing its slen- 

 der form drinking into the very depths 

 of nectar which nature has abundantly 

 supplied for his benefit and pleasure. 

 See! he now darts away with the rapid- 

 ity of lightning, perhaps, to his nest 

 which contains two very small eggs or 

 two equally small young ones. 



To me this is one of the most interest- 

 ing families of our birds. 



Notice its nest. What a beauty? It 

 seems almost impossible that a bird so 

 small could execute such workmanship 

 and show such skill in architecture. 

 The Oriole makes a fine nest, but the 

 Hummingbirds' excell that by far, i. e. 

 according to my way of thinking; but, 

 perhaps, some of you may differ with 

 me. If you will take into consideration 

 the size of both the Oriole and Hum- 

 mingbird and then take into considera- 

 tion the beauty of each nest, and notice 

 well their construction, I think that you 

 will be ready to agree with me. 



All Hummingbirds as far as known 

 build their nest principally on the same 

 plan . 



These fairy-like birds always lay two 

 eggs; there has never been a case re- 

 corded in which three eggs were found 

 in the same nest as I know of, and I 

 think it exceptional when one egg is 

 found to constitute the whole set. 



In about ten days the eggs hatch and 

 the young ones are then attentively at- 

 tended to by the parents, who, I suppose 

 keep their mouths well filled with the 

 nectar of flowers. The young birds are 

 ready to fly in about a week or ten days. 

 When they leave the nest they are cared 

 for by the old birds about a week longer 

 when they are then turned loose to seek 

 their own fortunes. 



Some authorities state that Humming- 

 birds raise two broods in one season, and 

 most people agree with them. 



J. W. P. SMITHWICK, 



Sans Souci. N. < '. 



