566 
ECONOMIC EELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
Family TROCHILIDJE: Htoiming-bieds. 
Fig. 133. 
Blace-chinnbd Humming-bird (Not found in Wisconsin). After B., B. and R. 
140. TROCHrLHS COLUBRIS, Ltnn. RUBY-THROATED HUMM[NG-BIRD. 
Group I. Class b. 
This exquisite little species is very common with us, and, according to my ob¬ 
servations, quite as much a bird of the woodlands as of open, sunny places, 
where flowers abound. 
I have met with it commonly in the heart of the heaviest timber of Jefferson 
county, and among the deep woods in the northern portion of the state. In 
these places it moves high among the outer branches of the trees, searching for 
insects upon the leaves, as it does for honey and insects within the coroUas of 
flowers. The wooded banks of streams, willow and alder thickets, hazel patches 
and the depths of tamarack swamps are also visited by it. They appear to be 
pugnacious and quarrelsome among themselves, and the little Black-capped 
Chickadee retreats before these emerald pigmies without the slightest resistance, 
as if it had long ago acknowledged their superiority. 
Food; From the stomachs of flve specimens were taken three small spiders, 
one aphis, and one small chalcidian (?), together with twelve other insects. 
Honey of flowers, small beetles and winged insects (Wilson). Principally in¬ 
sects (Samuels). Sweet juice of flowers (De Kay). Small beetles, spiders and 
winged insects, most of which are captured in the corolla of flowers (J. M. 
Wheaton). 
