THE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. 215 



nests now and then nearly a month earlier. A specimen in my collection, taken 

 by Mr. G. II. Ready, at Woods Lagoon, near Santa Cruz, California, contained 

 fresh egg-s on March 25, 1875. Throughout the greater part of their range, 

 excepting the more northern portions, the breeding season is at its height during 

 the first two weeks in May and lasts well into July, and two broods are probably 

 raised regularly, excepting perhaps in northern British Columbia and southern 

 Alaska. The nesting habits of the Rufous Humuiingbird are very similar to 

 those of the preceding species, and their nesting sites may be looked for in low 

 Inishes as well as on horizontal limbs of trees at various distances from the 

 ground. 



One of the most complete and interesting articles on the life history of this 

 species is that of Mr. H. W. Henshaw, in "The Auk" (Vol. Ill, 1886, pp. 76-78), 

 who inclines to the Ijelief that the majority of these birds on the upper Pecos 

 Riyei", New Mexico, breed in the upper limbs of the pines, and, altliough they 

 were exceedingly abundant there, he only found a single nest, and this only 

 after it had been deserted. I am also of the belief that in certain localities 

 they nest farther from the ground than Hunnningbirds usually do. The only 

 nest found bv me in the West was at Fort Lapwai, Idaho, as already stated. 

 This was saddled on a little- fork of a dry cottonwood twig, overhanging a creek, 

 about 15 feet above the water. 



Mr. A. W. Anthony writes' me: "I found the Rufous Hummingliird very 

 abundant at Beaverton, Oregon. Here they nested to some extent in oaks, 

 blackberry \anes, and on dry roots ])rojecting from upturned trees. One nest 

 hung from the end of a tall fern, while others, (h-ooping over it fi-oiu above, hid 

 the beautiful structure from all but accidental discovery. Their favorite sites, 

 however, seemed to be the long, trailing vines overhanging embankments and 

 upturned trees. A munber were found in railroad cuts; frequently several iiests 

 were situated within a few feet of each other, a slight preference l)eing shown 

 to embankments having a southern exposure. One nest w;is found that had 

 been placed on top of a last year's habitation, a mere rim l)eing l)uilt to raise 

 the sides, and a flooring being added to cover up a large })ebble that could be 

 plainly felt under the cotton lining. Fresh eggs were found here from May 1 

 to June K;." 



Dr. Clinton T. Cooke found one of their nests, near Salem, Oregon, on a 

 drooping limb of an ash tree, 2U feet from tlie ground; others were found in 

 waxberry and blackberry bushes. At Table Rock, in the Cascade j\Iountains, 

 they were very abundant on July 5, 1887, feeding on a CosfcJIri/a, in blossom 

 at the time. 



Mr. R. H. LaAvrence met with the Rufous Hummingbird in various ]iarts of 

 Washino-ton, and writes me that it is ver^- connnon there. His earliest record 

 was March 9, when they had already .reached llwaco, in the southwestern i)art 

 of the State. In southern California this species was noticed by him iieiu- 

 Monrovia, on March 8, 1894, and at Duarte he often saw Rufous Hununers 

 flitting about the blossom-laden orange trees, in company with other Hum- 

 mers, in an orchard situated near the foothills. 



