TROCHILID.E — THE IIUMMLNG-BIRDS — CALYPTE. 359 



wanting. Tail barred with black, and tipped with white. Length, 3. SO to 4.00 ; extent, 

 5.00 ; wing, 2.00 ; tail, 1.45. Iris brown ; bill and feet black. 

 Ilah. California. 



This large species seems to be peculiar to California, and constantly resi- 

 dent soutli of San Francisco, in mild winters remaining among the foot-hills 

 of the Sierra ]Sre\-ada, at least fifteen liundred feet above tlie sea, where I 

 have found tlieni conuHdU in Fel)ruary. They find tlowers more abundant at 

 that season tliau in the dry siunmer, and many insects. The males are in 



o 



fine plumage very early in January, though tlie brilliancy of their ruby head 

 increases towards spring. The nest described by NuttaR seems to be rather 

 that of T. Alcxandri, as all those of this species which I have seen are 

 about twice as large, and covered externally Avitli lichens, even when on 

 branches not having these parasites. One I found in a thicket of wild 

 gooseberry, aliout two feet above the ground, and Ijuilt in a trijile fork. It 

 was on top of an old nest of the same kind, and seemed to have been de- 

 serted before I found it, perhaps robbed of its eggs. Otliers are built at 

 various heights and positions, often in gardens, and sometimes on dead 

 branches, witliout any attempt at concealment except the outside covering 

 of lichens. Tliey are often almost wholly of moss, with only a lining of 

 feathers and down from plants. Tlie eggs are, as usual, two, and white. 

 About San Francisco the young are sometimes hatched as early as March 

 loth, wdien the climate is really warmer tlian it becomes in summer, after 

 the cold sea-winds begin to blow. This species is, however, more hardy 

 than others, being common along the coast border, though I did not observe 

 them near the summits of the Sierra Nevada. 



The notes of the male sound very mucli like those produced by filing a 

 saw, and sometimes like the sound of whetting a scythe. They come 

 familiarly about the city, and often into rooms, in search of flowers. Like 

 all humming-ljirds, they are so confident of their power of fliglit as to alight 

 within a few feet of a man, eying him curioirsly, and uttering their harsh 

 cry ; but on the least motion darting away like a meteor. 



