THE RUFOUS HUMMER. 305 
table down, bound together and lashed to its support by a wealth of spider- 
webbing. Unlike the nest of colubris, the nest of alexandri is not decorated 
with lichens; and it not infrequently resembles some small fine sponge, not 
only in its yellow-brown tint, but in the elastic texture of its walls, which re- 
gain their shape after being lightly squeezed. The eggs, two in number (but 
sometimes three in this species alone ), look like homeopathic pills—so dainty, 
indeed, that the owner herself must needs dart off the nest every now and 
then and hover at some distance to admire them. The male deserts his mate 
as soon as she is well established, and the entire care of the little family falls 
upon her shoulders. The young are fed by regurgitation, “ a frightful 
looking act,’ as Bradford Torrey says. 
No. 153. 
RUFOUS HUMMER. 
A. O. U. No. 433. Selasphorus rufus (Gmel.). 
Synonyms.—Rep-BAcKED Hummincsirp. Nootka HumMMER. 
Description.—Adult male: In general above and below bright rufous or 
cinnamon-red, changing to bronzy green on crown, fading to white on belly and on 
chest, where sharply contrasting with gorget; wing-quills purplish-dusky on tips; 
the central pair of tail-feathers broadened and broadly acuminate ; the succeeding 
pair with a deep notch on the inner web and a slighter emargination on the outer 
web; gorget somewhat produced laterally, of close-set rounded metallic scales, shin- 
ing coppery-red, fiery red, or (varying with individuals) rich ruby-red. Bull slender 
and straight. Adult female: Above rufous overlaid with bronzy green, clear 
rufous on rump and tail-coverts; pattern of tail as in male but less decided; 
central tail-feathers green tipped with black; lateral feathers chiefly rufous, 
changing to black subterminally, and tipped with white; underparts whitish, 
shaded with rufous on sides; gorget wanting or represented by a small central 
patch. Young males: Like, adult female but more extensively rufous above and 
throat flecked with reddish metallic scales. Young females: Like adult female 
but rump green and throat flecked with greenish scales. Length of adult male 
about 3.50 (88.9); wing 1.65 (41.91); tail 1.30 (33); bill .65 (16.5). Female: 
3.70 (94) ; wing 1.75 (44.5) ; tail 1.28 (32.5) ; bill .68 (17.3). 
Recognition Marks.—Pygmy size; abundant rufous of male distinctive; 
female requires careful discrimination from that of S. alleni and may be known 
certainly from it by notching of next central tail-feather, and by outer tail-feather 
more than .10 wide. 
Nesting.—Nest: Of plant down and fine mosses bound together with cob- 
webs, and ornamented with lichens, placed on horizontal or declining stem of 
bush or tree. Eggs: 2, pure white, elliptical oval. Av. size, .50 x .33 (12.7 x 8.3). 
Season: April 15-July 10; two broods. 
