104 
THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
make up of fine weed-stalks and dried 
grass intermingled with traceings of mud, 
the whole evenly covered with a layer of 
green moss, if it is handy; but sometimes 
it is covered with other substances such 
as cotton, sheep wool, rags, etc. It is 
lined with a few feathers and some soft 
white vegetable down. The lining how- 
ever varies with the time in the season. 
If early it is composed mainly of feathers 
soft grasses and similar substances, if 
late the vegetable down predominates and 
the interior of the nest is often as soft and 
warm as that of the goldfinch. 
The size of the nest varies much, as 
does also the structure. Sometimes the 
nest is but one inch in height while I have 
one before me that is sixinches from the 
top to the bottom. Sometimes the nest is 
flimsy and its support serving as part of 
the bottom; while others are strong and 
well made. I thought until last summer 
the nest was always placed ina horizontal 
position, but on one of my coileztiig 
expeditions with my b2for: mentio1ed 
friend | was somewhat surpris2d to nada 
nest firmly glued with mud to a smooth 
stone on the end of a culvert. It seemed 
strange to me that the bird should choos: 
such a position for there were many. other 
places near the nest, where it could have 
been placed more conveniently. Since 
then I have found several others so sit- 
uated; in one cas2 1 founda nest attached 
to the curved roof of a culvert. 
In this neighborhood, the ezgs are usual- 
ly five in number; in fact I have only 
found one nest which contained a greater 
number and it contained six. I never 
found four in the first set laid, but if the 
nest is robbed the next set isfour. | am 
positive that a greater number than six is 
sometimes deposited and intend looking 
for suzh a set the coming season. If any 
one finds a nest containing s2ven or eight 
I wish he would let m> know of it. 
Ludlow, Ky. OTTO GRADY. 
HUMMING BIRDs. 
Hummers are stricity American in distniu- 
tion and the greater bulk belong to South 
America. 
known to be over 425 species, embraced in 
According to Elliot there now are 
125 genera. Ofall this vast host this country 
has but a small part. As far as known only 
14 authentic species. Of these only five or six 
are residents the rest being merely stray visit- 
ors, Only one, the matchless ruby throat, 
exists east of the Mississippi river, This species 
feeds over nearly allthe Eastern United States 
and far into the British provinces, 
These birds average the smallest of all the 
birds; the largest in our. country, Lugente 
fulgens, 
length, 
inches in 
Trochilus 
measures less than five 
while the smallest the 
calliope measure only 234 inches, much small- 
er than the adult Ruby. This family is the 
most gorgeous in colors, as well as the swiftest 
on the wing shooting through the air with the 
rapidity of lightning they are easuy recog— 
nized. 
The Hummers subsist 
were thought to 
wholly upon the sweets of flowers but this 
theory was long ago exploded, “They are nuw 
known to eat imsects and sometimes berries 
and fruits. 
Their nest is a delicate structure closely 
Their 
eggs are only two in number and of pure 
brilliant whiteness. 
woven of vegetable down and lichens, 
It has often been said that the ITummers 
yoice is not musical, but I venture to assert 
that those who say so never heard out Ruby- 
throat or western Broad-tail in their courting 
season. If they have they might as well say 
that our Song Sparrow is songless, for though 
the notes are not loud they are clear an to my 
ear musical, 
The swiftness of these hirds is marvelous. 
Wintering as far south as Brazil they start on 
their northward journey about March, 1, and 
arrive at least 500 miles beyond our northern 
border as earlyas May 25. Their bodies are 
i 
