TROCIIILID.E — THE HUMMIiVG-BIRDS. 45]^ 



upon the intruder, producing a hollow rushing sound, like tluit of the Xight- 

 llawk, but of a much sharper tone. These sounds are produced Ijv tlie 

 wings. In July, when flowers are more abundant among the mountain sum- 

 mits, they leave the lower country. Dr. Cooper found them abundant in 

 August at an elevation of nearly six thousand feet, and where ice was 

 formed at night in their camp. 



In California, Dr. Cooper has not found any of this sj^ecies remaining in 

 winter, even at San Diego, where, however, he has known them to arri\e as 

 early as the 5th of February. He also saw several on the 22d of the same 

 month feeding among the flowers of the evergreen gooseberry. By the first 

 of April tliey were swarming about San Diego. Their young are hatched 

 before the middle of June. When perching, this species is said to utter a 

 shrill wiry call, like the highest note of a violin. They also produce a curi- 

 ous kind of bleating sound. They are among the most noisy and lively of 

 their race, are very tpiarrelsome, chase each other away from favorite flowers, 

 rising into the air until out of sight, chirping as they go in the most excited 

 manner. 



Mr. Lord noticed the arrival of this species at Little Spokan Eiver, in 

 latitude 49°, early in May. He found their nests usually in low shrubs and 

 close to rippling streams. The females of this and (_)ther species are said to 

 arrive about a week later than the males. 



Dr. Heermanu for several successive seasons found many pairs of these 

 birds breeding in the vicinity of San Francisco. 



Mr. Nuttall compares the appearance of the male liirds of this species, 

 when he approached too near their nests, to an angry coal of brilliant fire, 

 as they darted upon him, passing within a few inches of his face as they 

 returned again and again to the attack, making a sound as of a breaking 

 twig. 



Dr. Woodliouse, who found this bird abundant in New Mexico, particu- 

 larly in the vicinity of Santa Fe, speaks of the great noise they make for so 

 small a bird, and of their (piarrelsome and pugnacious disposition. 



Mr. i;. Brown, in hi.s .synopsis of the birds of Vancouver Island, notes the 

 appearance of this species, from the end of March to the lieginning of May, 

 according to the state of the season. Its nest was built on the tips of low 

 bushes, or the under branches of trees. This was the only species of Hum- 

 ming-Bird seen west of the Cascade JMountains. 



The Eufous Hummer was first noticed by Mr. Ridgway in the valley of the 

 Truckee River, in August, where it was the only species shot, and was ex- 

 tremely abundant among the sunflowers which ornament the meadows. In 

 May of the succeeding year, when the same locality was again visited, not 

 one of this species was to be found, its place being apparently supplied by 

 the T. alcxandri, whicli was quite common, and breeding. Eastward it was 

 met with as far as the East Humboldt Mountains, wliere, however, only a 

 single pair was seen, and one of them shot, in September. 



