218 LIFE HISTOEIES OP NOETH AMEllICAlSr BIEDS. 



that they are as niaxl as can be; the poor Auua Hummers have to get out of 

 their way pretty quickly at any time, but especially wlien they encroach on their 

 breeding grounds. The males very often have quarrels among themselves, and 

 are then very noisy, while the females are more orderly and qtliet; but even 

 they have occasional little mismiderstandings with each other, especially when 

 a pair meet while feeding on the same bush; one generally vacates the prem- 

 ises very quickly, and as soon as she does all becomes quiet again. During the 

 mating and breeding season the male frequently shoots straight up into tlie air 

 and nearly out of sight, only to turn suddenl\' and rush headlong down until 

 within a few feet of the ground. The wings during the downward rushes cut 

 the air and caiise a sharp, whistling screech, as they descend Avitli friglitful veloc- 

 ity, aiid should they strike any tiling on their downward course 1 l^elieve they 

 would l)e instantly killed." ' 



All the nests and eggs of this s[)ecies in the United States National Museum 

 were taken by Mr. Allen near Nicasio, California; one of these, now before me, 

 is attached to the side of a small oak limb which turns abru])tl}' at an angle of 

 about 45° directly over the cup of the nest, protecting it above; another is like- 

 wise attached to the side of a small pendant oak twig, its base being supported 

 by a bunch of moss. Some are securely saddled on small twigs of raspberry 

 bushes, and several of these are usually incorporated in the walls of the nest. 

 Occasionally they nest in hedges, on weed stalks, or on bushes overhanging 

 water. 



The nests are well and compncth- l)uilt, the inside being lined with vegeta- 

 ble down, while the outer walls are composed of green tree mosses and a few 

 bits of lichens, securely fastened in place with a spider web. Nests built on 

 trees seem to be generally somewhat larger than those found in bushes. The 

 average measurements of one of the former is 1^ inches outer diameter and the 

 same in depth; the inner cup is seven-eighths of an inch in width by three- 

 fourths of an inch in depth. On the whole they resemljle the nests of Anna's 

 Hummingbird more than those of the Rufous, and appear to me to be lietter and 

 more neatly built than either. 



The effo-s of Allen's Hummingbird reseml)le those of the other mendiers of 

 this family in color and sha})e, and are a trifle larger than those of the Kufous 

 Hummingbird. 



The average measurement of fifteen specimens in the United States National 

 Museum collection is 12.76 by 8.50 millimetres, or about 0.50 by 0.33 inch. 

 The laro-est eg-o- measures 13.97 by 8.89 millimetres, or 0.55 by 0.35 inch; the 

 smallest, 12.45 by 8.13 millimetres, or 0.49 by 0.32 inch. 



The type specimen. No. 27009 (not figured), Raljjh collection, from a set 

 of two eggs, was taken near Nicasio, California, on April 13, 1893. 



' A very interesting account of the habits of this species in captivity can be found iu an article by Mrs. 

 C. M. Crowell iu the Ornithologist and OOlogist (Vol. 7, 1882, pp. 126-128). 



