WESTERN BIRDS Hummingbird 



having scoffed at his performance. Dear little chap! 

 What would a California garden be without him! 



In his courting maneuvers he resembles the Ruby- 

 throated, flying straight up into the air and then descend- 

 ing with lightning rapidity, turning with a big semi-circle 

 with a sharp noise before the female, and again flying 

 heavenward. This performance is repeated several'times, 

 or until the female flies away. I have also seen the male 

 hovering in the air before his lady-love, his feathers 

 fluffed out, while he madly hummed a tune. 



As in the case of the eastern bird, no one has ever 

 seen this male helping with family duties; but in my 

 own yard males are always about, as well as nesting 

 females, and I am inclined to think that although taking 

 no part in nest-building, or feeding of young, he is not 

 far away and his proximity is not resented by his mate. 



These birds build from high up in oaks, peppers, and 

 other trees, to low in rose bushes, and vines about the 

 gardens, usually saddling the nest on a single twig, rope, 

 vine, etc. One I watched was placed on a growing twin- 

 peach about four feet from the ground. The bird was 

 wise enough to pick out a late variety so that the nest- 

 lings were out and away long before the fruit ripened. 

 Another female chose a coarse hemp string and stem 

 of an English ivy that grew over a porch a few feet 

 from a kitchen door that was continually being opened 

 and closed. In short, there is no accounting for where 

 these birds may build, there being no set rule that can 

 be laid down for them. And, too, they are liable to be 

 nesting at most any time of the year, eggs having been 

 found in December, commonly through February and 

 March, and as late as August in the summer-time. 



In the manner of brooding, feeding and caring for 

 young the Anna differs not materially from the others 

 recorded. The nest is more apt to be decorated with 

 lichens, although it is not always. Plant down bound 



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