396 THE RUFOUS HUMMER. 



General Range. — \\'estern North America from the Rocky Mountains to the 

 i'acitic, breeding south in mountainous regions to Arizona and north to Mount 

 St. Elias and southwest Yukon Territor) ; soutli in winter over the tablelands of 

 Mexico. 



Range in Washington. — ConinKiu summer resident on the West-side from 

 sea-level to timber-line; less common <mi the eastern slopes of the Cascades; rare 

 in the minnitains of eastern Washington. 



Migrations. — Sprimj: March ij-April 15. 



Authorities.—.^ Trochiliis nifiis. And. ( )rn. Biog. IV. 1838, 555, pi. 372. 

 Sclasplwriis nifiis Swains, Baird, Rep. I'ac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, p. 135. T. 

 C&S. L'. Rh. D-. Sr. Kb. Ra. Kk. J. B. E. 



Specimens.— U. of W. P. Prov. B. BN. E. 



THESE gaudily dressed little fellows, seemingly part and parcel of the 

 sunshine itself, are by no means the delicate creations they appear to be. 

 West of tlie Cascades they are. strange to say, among the very first of the 

 spring arri\als from the South. The vanguard always arrives by the last 

 week of March, and sometimes as early as the middle of that month. East 

 of the Cascades they are considerably later, and are not found in nearly so 

 large numbers. The}' are seldom to be seen in greatest abundance, however, 

 much before the middle of April. At this season certain bushes flower in 

 l)rofusion, and in these flowers the hummers find unlimited food and drink, — 

 honey, and the innunieralMe liii)' insects wdiich it attracts. 



Wright Park, situated in the center of the city of Tacoiua, has been very 

 extensively jjlanted with the decorati\-e wild currant; and it is here that hum- 

 mers mav oftenest be seen in great numliers. It is not uncommon to see 

 them by hundreds in this park, and often as many as twent}' disport them- 

 selves in and around a single bush. They are the most pugnacious little 

 creatures and are continually squabbling, the females being quite as quarrel- 

 some as the males. Their war song is a penetrating squeak, or chirrup. 

 The pausing of one of the birds to select some luscious insect from a cluster 

 of flowers seems to be the signal for an onset from one or more of its fellows, 

 when all squeak with greatest animation. One cannot help believing that 

 this is more or less in the nature of play, for it is joined in by both the males 

 and llie females, and the one attacked never resents it in the least. Usually 

 it describes a great circle in the air and descends into the center of some 

 other bush, where it sits watching the others and occasionally preening its 

 feathers. Thev are exceedingly tame at this season, and the bird-lover may 

 seat himself under some flower-laden bush while these most lieautiful little 

 birds ho\-er and i>erch within three or four feet of him. 



What appears to be the only cither vocal accomplishment of this hummer 

 is a somewdiat long-drawn, rasping note, very loud and harsh for so small a 

 bird. This is made bv the male, and, curiously enough, it is the love song 



