THE RUBY-TPIROATED 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 lines in breadth. 
Humming-bird, Trochilus Colubris, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 26. 
Trochilus Colubris, 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. 
Rury-throated Humming-bird, Trochilus colubris, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 248 ; 
vol. v. p. 544. 
Male, 84 , 41. 
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 
extensile, 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- 
