THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD. 195 



stalk of a rank weed, sometimes in the middle of the forest, at other times 

 on the branch of an oak, immediately over the road, and again in the garden 

 close to the walk. 



This interesting gem of the feathered tribe proceeds as far north in 

 summer as the 57th parallel. Dr. Richardson obtained it on the plains of 

 the Saskatchewan, and Mr. Drummond found its nest near the sources of the 

 Elk river. It does not occur on the Columbia river, where the Nootka 

 Humming-bird is abundant. A few were seen by me in Labrador, and, on 

 the other hand, I met with it entering the United States in crowds in the 

 beginning of April, advancing eastward along the shores of the Mexican 

 Gulf. The weather having become very cold one morning, many were 

 picked up dead along the beaches, and those which bore up were so benumbed 

 as almost to suffer the members of my party to take them with the hand. 

 My friend Dr. Bachman has heard this species uttering a few sweet notes, 

 sometimes when perched on a twig, and at other times on wing. The eggs 

 measure half an inch in length by 4| lines in breadth. 



Humming-bird, Trochilus Colubris, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 26. 



Trochilus Coldbris, Bonap. Syn., p. 98. 



Trochilus Colubris, Northern Humming-bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. 



ii. p. 323. 

 Ruby-throated Humming-bird, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 588. 

 Ruby-throated Humming-bird, Trochilus colubris, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 248; vol. 



v. p. 544. 



Male, 3i, 4|. 



In summer, from Texas to lat. 57°, and in all intermediate districts east 

 of the Rocky Mountains. Common. Migratory. 



Adult Male. 



Bill long, straight, subulate, depressed at the base, acute; upper mandible 

 rounded, its edges overlapping. Nostrils basal, linear. Tongue very exten- 

 sile, filiform, divided towards the end into two filaments. Feet very short 

 and feeble; tarsus slender, shorter than the middle toe, partly feathered; fore 

 toes united at the base; claws curved, compressed, acute. 



Plumage compact, imbricated above and on the throat with metallic 

 lustre, blended beneath. Wings long, narrow, a little incurved at the tip, 

 the first quill longest. Tail forked when closed, when spread even in the 

 middle and laterally rounded, of ten broad feathers, the outer curved 

 inwards. 



Bill and feet black. Iris of the same colour. Upper parts generally, 

 including the two middle tail-feathers, green, with gold reflections. Quills 

 and tail purplish-brown. Throat, sides of the head, and fore neck, carmine- 



