400 THE ALLEN HUMMINGBIRD. 



l)ia, east, suiithf riy. tn Arizmia: south in winter to Lower California and Sonora. 



Range in- Washington. — Im|)crfectly made out: at least summer resident 

 and migrant west of the Cascades: m.it yet reported from the East-side. 



Authorities. — Lawrence, Ank, \'ol. IX. Jan. 1892. ]>. 44. L. Ra. Kh. B. E. 



Specimens. — C. E. 



IT is the misforttme of certain well-cleser\'ing mortals to be known to 

 fame as the htisbands or brothers or cousins of some celelirity. Allen's 

 Hummer is the daintier, as he is the rarer, of the summer Si'Iosf'hori. Init 

 we know him thus far only as a momentary vision. At each appearance we 

 pause to assure ourseh'es that we really did see a Hummer with a green back 

 (iii'J a red gorget, for otherwise, we ha\e been fluped again bv one of those 

 liresrime female Rufouses. 



Mr. R. U. Lawrence records the Allen Hummer as a summer resident of 

 the Grav's Harbor countr}-. and says of it^ : "Perhaps as common as T. nifiis, 

 and freijuenting similar ])laces. First noted in i8qi (tu the East Huniptuli]is. 

 \])ril 30. I had a g 1 \iew of one on Otiiniault Lake June 13." 



Mr. Chas. .-\. Allen, of Xicasio. Cal.. wdio discovered this species and in 

 wh<Tse honor it was named. sa_\s of these birds'"": "Their courage is bevond 

 (|uestion: I once saw two of these little w-arriors start after a Western Red- 

 tailed Hawk, and tliey attacked it so vigorously that the Hawk was glad 

 to get out of their way. But these little scamps were e\en tlien not satis- 

 fied, but hel])ed liim alrmg after lie had decided to go. Each male seems 

 to claim a particular range wdiich he occti])ies for feeding and breeding 

 ])urposes, and e\-erv other bird seen liy him encroaching on his preserve 

 is at once so determinedly set u])on and harassed that he is onh- too glad 

 to beat a hasty retreat. During their quarrels these birds keep up an incessant 

 sharp chirping, and a harsh rasping buzzing with the wings, which sounds 

 verv different from the low soft humming thtv make with these while 

 feeding. * * * During the mating and breeding season the male 

 frequently shoots straight up into the air and nearly out of sight, nn\y to 

 turn suddenly and rush headlong down until within a few feet of the 

 ground. The wings during the dr)wnward rushes cut the air .-uid catise 

 a sharp, whistling screech, as the}' descend with frightful velocit\-, and 

 should they strike an}'thing in their downward course, I believe the\- would 

 be instanth- killed." 



a. .'\uk, \'ot IX., Jan. 1S02, p. 44. 



h. Bendire, Life Historie.s X. .A. Rirds, \'n]. IT., pp. 217, 218. 



