104 
VERTEBRATA. 
of the continent of America which lies between the northern boundary of Mexico and the south- 
ern limit of Brazil and Peru. They are particularly abundant in Mexico, Central America, and- 
the West Indies. Their appearance in these tropical countries is thus described by Edwards in 
his " Voyage up the Amazon :" 
" Wherever a creeping vine opens its fragrant clusters, or wherever a tree or flower blooms, 
may these little birds be seen. In the garden or in the woods, over the water, everywhere, they 
are darting about, of all sizes, from one that might easily be mistaken for a different variety of 
bird, to the tiny Hermit, whose body is not half the size of the bees buzzing about the same 
sweets. Sometimes they are seen chasing each other in sport with a rapidity of flight and intri- 
cacy of path the eye is puzzled to follow. Again, circling round and round, they rise high in 
mid-air, then dart off like light to some distant attraction. Perched upon a little limb, they 
smooth their plumes, and seem to delight in their dazzling hues; then darting off leisurely, they 
skim along, stopping capriciously to kiss the coquetting flowerets. Often two meet in mid-air and 
fight furiously, their crests and the feathers on their throats erected and blazing, and altogether 
pictures of the most violent rage. Several times we saw them battling with large, black bees, 
who frequent the same flowers, and may be supposed to interfere, often provokingly. Like light- 
ning our little heroes would come down, but the coat of shining mail would ward off their furious 
strokes. Again and again would they renew the attack, until their anger had expended itself by 
its own fury, or until the apathetic bee, once roused, had put forth powers that drove the invader 
from the field." 
Genus TROCHILUS : TrocMlus^ includes the Ruby-throated Humming-Bird, T. colubris, 
common in summer from Hudson's Bay to Mexico, and breeding throughout this wide space. 
Wilson's description of it is substantially as follows: "It is three inches and a half in length 
and four and a quarter in extent ; the whole back, upper part of the neck, sides under the wings, 
tail-coverts, and two middle feathers of the tail, are of a rich golden-green ; the tail is forked, 
and, as well as the wings, of a deep brownish -purple ; the bill and eyes are black ; the legs and 
feet, both of which are extremely small, are also black; the bill is straight and very slender. The 
sides of the belly and belly itself are dusky white, mixed with green ; but what constitutes the 
chief ornament of this little bird is the splendor of the feathers of his throat, which, when placed 
in a proper position, glow with all the brilliancy of the ruby. These feathers are of singular 
strength and texture, lying close together like scales, and vary, when moved before the eye, from 
a deep black to a fiery crimson and burning orange. The female is destitute of this ornament, 
but differs little in other appearance from the male. In May it begins to build its nest. This is 
generally fixed on the upper side of a horizontal branch, not among the twigs, but on the body 
of the branch itself. In the w^oods it very often chooses a white-oak sapling to build on, and in 
the orchard or garden selects a pear-tree for that purpose. The branch is seldom more than ten 
feet from the ground. The nest is about an inch in diameter, and as much in depth. A very 
complete one is now lying before me, and the materials of which it is composed are as follows: — 
the outward coat is formed of small pieces of a species of bluish-gray lichen that vegetates on old 
trees and fences, thickly glued on with the saliva of the bird, giving firmness and consistency to 
the whole, as well as keeping out moisture. Within this are thick, matted layers of the fine wings 
of certain flying seeds, closely laid together ; and lastly, the downy substance from the great mul- 
lein, and from the stalks of the common fern, lines the whole. The base of the nest is continued 
round the stem of the branch, to which it closely adheres; and, when viewed from below, appears 
a mere mossy knot or accidental protuberance. The eggs are two, pure white, and of equal thick- 
ness at both ends. 
" The humming-bird is extremely fond of tubular flowers, and I have often stopped, with pleas- 
ure, to observe his maneuvers among the blossoms of the trumpet-flower. When arrived before 
a thicket of these that are full blown, he poises or suspends himself on wdng, for the space of two 
or three seconds, so steadily, that his wings become invisible, or only like a mist ; and you can 
plainly distinguish the pupil of his eye looking round with great quickness and circumspection ; 
the glossy golden-green of his back, and the fire of his throat, dazzling in the sun, form altogether 
a most interesting appearance. When he alights, which is frequently, he always prefers the small. 
