200 LIFE HISTOllIES OF NORTH AMKKICAi^ BIRDS. 



about 2i acres in extent, situated at the southern slope of a swale or draw 

 on Ang-elano Heights. These trees hear clusters of slender, yellow, tube- 

 shaped flowers, and are from 12 to 20 feet in height; the tract is known as 

 'Hummer's Patch.' I saw from seventy to eight}' Hummingbirds here in less 

 than two hours, during the hottest part of the day. Many are killed by the 

 boys with spring and air guns in pure wantonness. No nests were found, and 

 males appeared to be more abundant than females. I also found these three 

 species ver}^ common in the dry wash of Saw-Pit River, in the same county. 

 Here they were attracted by a bright red flower {Delphinium carcUnalis) growing 

 on a clean, slender, juicy stalk, from 2 to 6 feet high This plant was abundantly 

 scattered among the low buslies_ of a level tract of a few acres, and appeared to 

 be a favorite feeding place for ditferent species." 



In the vicinity of Tucson, Arizona, where this species is common, I hnve 

 frequently seen it feeding in the flowers of the mescal (Agave americand), as 

 well as in those of several species of yuccas, undoubtedly attracted by the 

 numerous small insects harbored by them. Two nests, with young, probably 

 three or four days old, were found by me saddled on willow branches, on the 

 banks of Rillito Creek, on May 30, 1872, one 4, the other 7 feet from the 

 ground. 



In southern California nidification commences ordinarily abovit the latter 

 part of April or the beginning of May, but I have seen it stated that a set of eggs 

 has been found near Los Angeles, California, as early as February 6, ])0ssibly 

 a misidentification, the nest really beloiiging to Cahjpte anna, which is well 

 known to occasionally breed this early. Throughout the greater part of their 

 range, however, it rarely l>egins laying before May 1, and the season is at its 

 height through this month, while second or possibly third sets are found up 

 to the latter part of July, and occasionally still later. The nest is readily 

 distinguishable from that of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird by not being 

 covered on the outside with lichens. It is composed of plant down, varying in 

 color from white to buff'; the latter is obtained from the under side of the young 

 leaves of the sycamore, the forn^er probably from willows, milkweed, or 

 thistles. These materials are well worked together, and the outside of the nest 

 is thickly coated with spider web. In an occasional specimen a small leaf or 

 two, or a few flower blossoms of the oak are worked in the outer walls. In a 

 specimen from Marfa, Texas, the outside is well covered with small flower 

 spikes, the male aments of a species of oak, hiding the inner lining completely. 



A beautiful nest now before me, taken by Mr. F. Stephens, near ( )\vens 

 Lake, Inyo County, California, No. 24329, United States National Museum 

 collection, is mainly composed of white willow down, mixed on the outside with 

 a few small leaves and the scales from the willow buds; these are firmly held hi 

 place by an abundance of spider web, with which it is also securely attached to 

 the little fork in which it is saddled. The outer diameter of this nest is about 

 If inches by 1 inch in depth ; the inner cup is 1 inch in diameter by five- 

 eighths of an incli deep; and wliile some specimens before me are a trifle larger, 

 others are considerably smaller. Nests taken in the Sequoia National Park, in 



