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Range (Eastern North America breeds) (VIII)

Eastern North America; breeds from Florida to Labrador; winters in Central America. Washington, abundant S. R., Apl. 15 to Oct. 10. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 19 to Oct. 23. Cambridge, abundant S. R., Apl. 25 to Sept. 20. Nest, a bracketlike basket of dead twigs glued together with saliva; attached to the wall of a chimney, generally about ten feet from the top, by HUMMINGBIRDS. the gummy secretion of the bird's salivary glands. Eggs, four to six, white, 80 x 50.

It is unnecessary to give any aids to the identification of a bird as well known as the Chimney Swift, or, as it is more frequently called, "Chimney Swallow." It is not, however, a Swallow, but a Swift, and its structural relations are with the Hummingbirds and not with the Passerine Swallows.

Few sights in the bird-world are more familiar than the bow-andarrow-like forms of these rapidly flying birds silhoueted against the sky. They are most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when one may hear their rolling twitter as they course about overhead. Sometimes they sail with wings held aloft over their backs, and sometimes, it is said, they use their wings alternately. It is a common thing to see a trio of birds flying together, but it has never been ascertained that the Chimney Swift is polygamous. In some localities Chimney Swifts congregate in large flocks, making their headquarters in a disused chimney which morning and evening they leave and return to in a body. In perching they cling to the side of the chimney, using the spine-pointed tails, as Woodpeckers do, for a support. The habit of frequenting chimneys is, of course, a recent one, and the substitution of this modern, artificial home for hollow trees, illustrates the readiness with which a bird may take advantage of a favoring change in its environment. FAMILY TROCHILIDÆ.

HUMMINGBIRDS.

Hummingbirds are found only in the New World. About five hundred species are known. They range from Alaska to Patagonia, but are most numerous in the Andean regions of Colombia and Ecuador. Seventeen species are found in the United States; only eight of these advance beyond our Mexican border States, and but one species occurs east of the Mississippi.

Several species inhabit the depths of dark tropical forests, but as a rule they are found with the flowers which bloom in the clearings, or far overhead in the sunlight. They are not gregarious, but an abundance of food sometimes brings large numbers of them together, when the air becomes animated with their rapidly moving forms. The smaller species fly so swiftly that their wings are lost in hazy circles, and it is difficult for the human eye to follow their course. The flight of the larger species is less insectlike, and each wing-beat can be detected. As a rule their voice is a weak squeak or excited chippering, but some of the tropical species have songs of decided character which they sing with much energy. Hummingbirds feed largely on insects, which they generally cap- HUMMINGBIRDS. ture in flowers, but many species catch insects on the wing or pick them from beneath leaves. They also feed on the juices of flowers. All the species whose nesting habits are known lay two white eggs. Strangely enough, these beautiful little creatures are possessed of a most unfortunate disposition which frequently leads them to attack any bird they fancy is trespassing on their domain. They know no fear, and with equal courage rush at one of their kind or a passing Hawk. 428. Trochilus colubris (Linn.). RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. (See Fig. 40.) Ad. 8. - Upper parts bright, shining green; wings and tail fuscous, with purplish reflections; throat beautiful metallic ruby-red, bordered on the breast by whitish; rest of the under parts dusky, washed with greenish on the sides. Ad. q. - Similar, but without ruby-red on the throat. Im.-Similar to the female, but with the upper parts more bronzy. L., 3.74; W., 1.54; T., 1.15; B., 67.

Range.-Eastern North America; breeds from Florida to Labrador; winters from southern Florida to Central America. Washington, common S. R., Apl. 28 to Sept. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 30 to Oct. 3. Cambridge, uncommon S. R., May 12 to Sept. Nest, of plant down, covered externally with lichens and firmly wound with almost invisible plant fibers; generally fifteen to twenty-five feet from the ground, saddled on a limb. Eggs, two, white, 50 x 35. The Ruby-throat needs no song. Its beauty gives it distinction, and its wings make music. Its only note, so far as I know, is a squeak, expressive of distrust or excitement. It has no rival in eastern North America, and is to be confounded with nothing but sphinx (hummingbird) moths. One hears of "Hummingbirds" seen in the evening about flower beds. The mistake is not unnatural, and a correction is sometimes received with incredulity. The birds spend but a comparatively small part of the time upon the wing. Whoever watches a female busy about her nest will see her constantly perching here and there in certain branches of the tree, preening her plumage and looking about her. The male, at the same season, forgetful, to all appearance, of his conjugal and parental duties, may be found at home day after day on a dead twig in some tall tree, where he sits so constantly as to make the observer wonder what he can be about, and when, if ever, he takes his food. Further investigation, however, will show that he makes frequent and regular rounds of favorite feeding places. A tall blueberry bush, for example, will be visited at short intervals as long as the observer has patience to stand beside it. The Hummingbird is curiously fearless. Sometimes one will probe a flower held in the hand, and when they fly into houses, as they pretty often do, they manifest but the smallest degree of suspicion, and will feed almost at once upon sugar held between the lips. The old bird feeds FLYCATCHERS. the young by regurgitation-a frightful-looking act-the food consisting largely of minute insects. The young remain in the nest for some three weeks, and on leaving it are at once at home on the wing. BRADFORD TORREY.