GREEN, GREENISH GRAY, AND OLIVE 425 



or two, and ventured farther into the world of flowers. 

 The mother still fed them, but now they seemed to help 

 themselves from her bill rather than to have the food 

 pun)ped or shaken into their throats. They now called 

 in the squeaky tones of a young mouse, and the appeal 

 never failed to bring the mother instantly to their side. 

 Although I have been interested in several broods from 

 start to finish, I have never seen one of the eggs hatch 

 and certainly never incubated one. Mr. A. W. Anthony 

 has done both, and has described the process so well that 

 I quote it entire : 



" A nest of this species [Anna Hummingbird] was 

 found and transferred, eggs and all, to my game bag. 

 An hour later I was somewhat disgusted to find one of 

 the eggs [)ipped, and was about to throw it away, when 

 a movement on the part of the tiny creature in the shell 

 suggested that I hatch the egg and find out how baby 

 hummingbirds come into the world. So far there was but 

 a pin point broken, and it was several minutes before the 

 warmth of my hand produced another movement on 

 the part of the prospective hummer. First a squirm and 

 tlie point of the bill came into view and was withdrawn ; 

 after a moment's rest there, a new system was ado|)ted 

 wliich consisted of a turnini^ in the shell from riu^ht to 

 left, and cutting a clean, smooth opening with the sharp 

 horny tip on the upper mandible. This was hard work 

 and required all the strength of the little mite, and fre- 

 quent rests were necessary to recruit. The cutting was 

 all done in the same direction, and after about ten minutes 

 I was obliged to turn the egg over in my hand in order 



