( ) 
The Re d-n throated Huming Bird* 
HP HESE Birds, which I am pretty well affured are Cock and Hen, together with 
the Neft and Eggs, are reprefented of their natural Size; the firft or Cock-bird 
has already been very well done by Mr. Catesby y in his Hiftory of Carolina , yet 1 did 
not care to leave him out of this Plate, fince I have the Hen, Neft and Eggs; the Bills 
are long, llender, ftraight, and of a black Colour in both; the upper Part of the Head, 
Neck, Back, and leffer Coverts of the Wings in both, are of a fine filky-looking dark 
Green, which feems to be intermixed with very fine golden Threads ; the prime Fea¬ 
thers in the Wings of both are of a dirty Purple-colour, as they are in all or moft 
Huming Birds’, in the Cock the Tail is Purple, except the middle Feathers, which are 
Green; the middle of the Belly and Covert-feathers under the Tail are White, the 
Sides under the Wings Green ; like the Back; but what chiefly diftinguifhes the 
Cock from the Hen, is a moft beautiful fhining Scarlet-colour under the Chin, which 
reachesto the Breaft, changing itsColour in different Pofitions to the Light, fometimes 
into a deep Sable-colour, then again to the Colour of fhining Gold .; the Feathers in 
this red Part are firm and regularly placed, like the Scales of Fifh ; the Hen differs 
from the Cock, in that her whole under Side is white from Bill to Tail, and the Pur¬ 
ple Feathers of her Tail are tip’d with White, the middle Feathers being Green.; the 
Legs and Feet in both, are very fmall and of a black Colour; the Neft which was 
faftened on the upper Side of a Branch, was compofed of a woolly Subftance and 
Mofs, the infide being Wooll or fome foft Subftance, of a light yellowifh brown Co¬ 
lour ; the outfide is covered with Mofs very firmly and clofely laid .together, which is 
not eafily ruffled with flight handling; the Eggs are fmall and white, feeming to be 
no fharper at one End than the other, as is common to moft Eggs. 
Mr. Peter Colinfon, F. R . S. obliged me with a Sight of this curious Pair of Birds 
and Neft. They are found in Carolina , and as far North as New England in the Sum¬ 
mer Seafon, but retire Southward, or difappear in Winter. 1 have been informed that 
no Bird of this Genus, except this one, ever vifits the Englijh Colonies in North America. 
p I ' HIS Fly is of a black or dark Sable-colour, having a pretty large fcarlet Spot 
-*’■ acrofs each of the upper Wings, befide fome Streaks of the fame Colour near the 
Body ; the lower Wings have each four little round red Spots near the Body. I know 
not from what Part this Fly came. I had.it of Mr. William Goupey . 
The 
