TsooHiLiDai. BIRDS. TROCHiLiDa;. clix 
Ribea, or flowering currant, the brilliant flowers of 
which were then in bloom on the Little Spokan 
Kiver. The length of this species is 2.75 ; wing, 
1.60 ; tail, 1.00. 
RUBY-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD {Trochilus co- 
luh'is). — This is the familiar Humming-bird of our 
Eastern States, and is the best known of all our 
species. It is found from the Atlantic to the Mis- 
souri Valley, and breeds from Florida and the valley 
of the Eio Grande to higli northern latitudes. Dr. 
Brewer says : “ They nest in Massachusetts about 
the 10th of June, and are about thirteen days be- 
tween the full number of eggs and the appearance of 
the young. They resent any approach to their nest, 
and will even make angry movements about the head 
of the intruder, uttering a sharp outcry. Other than 
this, I have never heard them utter any note.” 
Wilson describes i^s nest as follows : ” This is gen- 
erally fixed on the upper side of a horizontal branch, 
not among the twigs, but on the body of the branch 
itself. Yet I have known instances where it was 
attached by the side to an old moss-grown trunk, 
and others where it was fastened on a strong rank 
stalk or weed in the garden ; but those cases are 
rare. In the woods it very often chooses a white-oak 
sapling. 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 small species of bluish-gray lichen, that 
vegetates on trees and fences, thickly glued on with 
the saliva of the bird, giving firmness and consist- 
ency 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 mullein, 
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.” 
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMING-BIRD [T. alexandri). 
— 'J’his species is found from the highlands of Mexico 
to the fifty-eighth parallel northward. Dr. Heerman 
first added it to the Fauna of the United States, 
having found it in Sacramento City, California. 
The nests, he remarks, are essentially similar to 
those of the colubris. Dr. Cooper found them along 
the Mohave Kiver. He says of the nests : “ They 
were all built of white down from the catkins of the 
willow, agglutinated by the saliva of the bird. They 
were thus fastened to the end of the hanging branches 
of the Sycamore.” Mr. J. K. Lord, one of the Com- 
missioners to the North-western Boundary Survey, 
gives definite information concerning the insectivor- 
ous character of this species. He says : “ On a 
number of black birch trees a sweet, gummy sap ex- 
uded plentifully, and on this sap hosts of insects, 
large and small, were regaling themselves. As the 
sap was very sticky, numbers of the small-winged 
insects were trapped in it. Busily employed in pick- 
ing off and devouring these captive insects were 
several very sombre-looking Humming-birds, poising 
themselves over the flower, and nipping off, as with 
delicate forceps, the imprisoned insects.” The 
stomachs of those he killed were found filled with 
various kinds of winged insects. The bird is found 
nesting in the lowest valleys, and to the height of 
eight or nine thousand feet. 
ANNA HUMMING-BIRD [Galypte anna). — Another 
of the western species, found in Mexico and the coast 
region of California. It is named in honor of Anna, 
Duchess of Rivoli. Audubon figures a specimen, 
the first which had been captured in the States. Its 
nest is not so neat as that of the eastern species. 
Dr. Gambell considers it a very common species in 
California, and adds that it passes the entire winter 
there. During the breeding season they are very 
pugnacious, darting like meteors among the trees, 
uttering a loud and repeated twittering scold. Dr. 
Cooper says : “ The notes of the male bird are like 
the sound produ'ced by the filing of a saw or the 
whetting of a scythe.” 
COSTA’S HUMMING-BIRD ; RUFFED HUMMER [G. 
costm). — This is a Mexican bird, abundant in the val- 
leys of Sierra Madre, and extending into New Mex- 
ico, Southern California and Arizona. It is named 
in honor of the Marquis de Costa, of Chambery. 
The notes uttered by the male resemble the highest 
and sharpest which can be drawn from a violin. 
RUFOUS-BACKED HUMMING-BIRD (Selasphorus 
rv/us). — This is found on the west coast of North 
America, and across from the gulf of California to 
the Upper Rio Grande Yalley, and along the Table- 
lands of Mexico. It is a brilliantly-colored species, 
and is decorated with a curious ruff upon its throat. 
The first one found was by Capt. Cook, the cele- 
brated voyager and navigator, in Nootka Sound, 
’i'hey are common summer residents at Sitka. Dr. 
Cooper states : “ The male of this species has a re- 
markable habit, when a stranger or wild animal 
approaches its nest, of rising to a great height in 
the air, and then darting down perpendicularly upon 
the intruder, producing a hollow, rushing sound, like 
that of the Night Hawk, but of a much sharper tone.” 
'I'hese sounds, he says, are produced by the wings. 
When perching, this species is said to utter a shrill, 
wiry call. 'J’hey also produce a curious kind of bleat- 
ing sound. Mr. Nuttall compares the appearance of 
the male to an angry coal of brilliant fire, as they 
darted upon him, passing, within a few inches of his 
face, as they returned again and again to the attack, 
making a sound as of a breaking twig. 
BROAD-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD {S. platycercus). 
— 'I’his species inhabits the 'I'able-lands of Mexico 
and the Rocky Mountains, and as far north as 
Wyoming Territory. It is larger and somewhat dif- 
ferent from the Ruby-throat of the east in its mark- 
ings, yet it is at first sight easily mistaken for the 
latter. Dr. Palmer procured nests, which were con- 
sidered large for the size of the bird, being unusually 
broad and shallow, but made much like those of other 
species. It displays considerable pugnacity. Mr. 
Ridgway saw a male repeatedly drive away a Hawk 
(Accipeter fuscus). He also observed that this 
bird was accompanied in its flight by a peculiar 
