RUBY-CROWJfED KINGLET. 
113 
swiftly, however, does it perform its migrations from 
Louisiana to Newfoundland and Labrador, that although 
it sometimes remains in the first of these countries 
until late in ]\Iarch, it has young in the latter by 
the end of June, and the brood is able to accompany 
the old birds back to the south in the beginning 
of August. 
The adidt male in summer plumage has the bill 
short, straight, subulate, very slender, and compressed, 
with inflated edges; upper mandible nearly straight 
in its dorsal outline, the edges scarcely notched close 
upon the slightly declinate acute tip; lower mandible 
straight and acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, half closed 
above by a membrane covered over by feathers. 
The whole form is slender, although the bird looks 
somewhat bulky, on account of the loose texture of 
the feathers. Legs rather long; tarsus slender, longer 
than the middle toe, much compressed, and covered 
anteriorly with a few indistinct scutella; toes scutellate 
above, the lateral ones nearly equal and. free, hind toe 
stouter; claws weak, compressed, arched, and acute. 
Plumage very loose and tufty. Short bristles at the 
base of the bill. Feathers of the head elonoated and 
O 
silky. Wings of ordinary length, third and fourth 
primaries longest. Tail of twelve feathers, emarginate, 
and of ordinary length; bill black, yellow at the base 
of the lower, and on the edges of the upper mandible. 
Iris light brown; feet yellowish browm, the under 
parts yellow. The general colour of the upper parts 
is dull olivaceous, lighter behind. The eye is encircled 
with greyish white, of which colour also are the tips 
of the wing coverts; quills and tail dusky, edged 
with greenish yellow; the silky feathers of the crown 
of the head vermilion. The under parts greyish white. 
\ 
VOL. II. 
K 
