THE ALLEN HUMMINGBIRD. 309 
The eggs, so far as has ever been recorded, are invariably two in 
number. They are immaculate milky white in color: and when freshly 
laid the yolk makes them look like little pink moonstones, such as one 
finds on the beach. In 
shape they are elliptical, and 
seem large for so small f 
a bird, measuring .50 x .33 
inches. 
The young are 
fed by regurgita- 
tion. For several § 
days after hatch- 
ing their bills are 
little longer than 
those of any other 
young bird; but 
by the time they 
leave the nest, 
their sword-like 
beaks are nearly 
as long as those 
of their parents. 
SHS 
Taken near Tacoma. Photo by W. Leon Dawson. 
HB teeta TREASURE TROVE FOR THE HUMMER 
Ife - DOWLES. COBWEBS ARE LARGELY UTILIZED IN THE BUILDING OF A HUMMINGBIRD’S NEST 
No. 154. 
ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD. 
A. O. U. No. 434. Selasphorus alleni Hensh. 
Synonym.—GREEN-BACKED Rurous HuMMINGBIRD. 
Description.—Adult male: Similar to adult male of S. rufus, but upperparts 
shining bronzy green (duller on crown) ; underparts, including belly, cinnamon- 
tufous, changing to white on chest only; tail-feathers without notching or 
emargination, the two outer pairs smaller and very narrow, the outermost acicular. 
Adult female: Very similar to adult male of S. rufus, but with tail as in male 
S. alleni. Length of adult male: 3.25 (82.6); wing 1.52 (38.6) ; tail 1.17 (20.7) ; 
bill .63 (16). Female a little larger. 
Recognition Marks.—Pygmy size; fiery gorget with green back of male 
unmistakable; female indistinguishable out of hand from that of S. rufus; outer- 
most tail-feathers less than .10 wide. 
Nesting.—As in preceding. 
General Range.—Pacific Coast district north to southwestern British Colum- 
