The nests of humming-birds are small cups of downy materials, sometimes resting upon the limb of a tree (as is the method with the common ruby-throat of the eastern United States; sometimes fastened in a crotch of a bush or of large leaves; or fastened to the tip of a pendant leaf, or in a bunch of hanging moss or foliage. The materials are adapted to the place in color and appearance, and further con cealment is gained by coating the structure with lichens, or bits of hark, or with cone scales, as is the habit of the familiar Calliope hummer of California, which nests in pine trees. The eggs of all species are only two in number and purely white.
The family is exclusively American, and is represented from Labrador and southern Alaska to Patagonia; but the more vagrant species are few, and withdraw in winter toward the equator. About 125 genera with some 500 species are recognized by ornithologists. Nine tenths of them belong to the Amazon and Orinoco valleys, or to the lovilands of Central America; yet some species habitually spend the sununer on high mountains. The variety de creases northward, but nearly 20 species reach the boundary of the United States and sev eral are regularly present in summer west of the great plains as far north as southern Alaska. One species wanders over the whole country, and is abundant in the Eastern States.
This is the ruby-throat (Trochilus colubris). It is about three and one-half inches long. The whole upper part, sides under the wings, tail coverts and two middle feathers of the tail are rich golden green; the tail is forked, and, as well as the wings, of a deep brownish purple; the bill and eyes black; but what con stitutes their chief ornament is the splendor of the feathers on the throat of the male, which are ruby-red, and gleam like a great jewel. The females and immature your lack this gorget.
The Anna humming-bird (Calypte anne), with crown and throat glittering purplish pink; the broad-tailed (Selasphorus platy cercus), green, with pink throat; the rufous (S. rufus), back reddish brown, gorget red: Allen's (S. alleni), crown and back green, tail rusty; and the calliope (Stellula calliope), very small, green above, throat purplish-pink, mixed with white; are more or less common and widespread summer visitors to the Pacific
Jardine,
Li brary) (Vols. I and II, Edinburgh 1833); Lesson, (Histoire Naturelle des Colubris' (1830) ; Gould, 'Monograph of the Trochilithe' (5 vols., 1850-95) ; Mulsant and Verreaux, (Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches oe Colubris (4 vols., 1876)•, Ridgway,