400 
bia, east, southerly, to Arizona; south in winter to Lower California and Sonora. 
Range in Washington.—Imperfectly made out; at least summer resident 
and migrant west of the Cascades; not yet reported from the East-side. 
Authorities.—Lawrence, Auk, Vol. IX. Jan. 1892, p. 44. L. Ra. Kb. B. E. 
Specimens.—C. E. 
IT is the misfortune of certain well-deserving mortals to be known to 
fame as the husbands or brothers or cousins of some celebrity. Allen's 
Hummer is the daintier, as he is the rarer, of the summer Selasphori, but 
we know him thus far only as a momentary vision. At each appearance we 
pause to assure ourselves that we really did see a Hummer with a green back 
and a red gorget, for otherwise, we have been duped again by one of those 
tiresome female Rufouses. 
Mr. R. HW. Lawrence records the Allen Hummer as a summer resident of 
the Gray’s Harbor country, and says of it*: “Perhaps as common as T. rufus, 
and frequenting similar places. First noted in 1891 on the East Humptulips, 
April 30. I had a good view of one on Quiniault Lake June 13.” 
Mr. Chas. A. Allen, of Nicasio, Cal., who discovered this species and in 
whose honor it was named, says of these birds”: “Their courage is beyond 
question; I once saw two of these little warriors start after a Western Red- 
tailed Hawk, and they attacked it so vigorously that the Hawk was glad 
to get out of their way. But these little scamps were even then not satis- 
fied, but helped him along after he had decided to go. Each male seems 
to claim a particular range which he occupies for feeding and breeding 
purposes, and every other bird seen by him encroaching on his preserve 
is at once so determinedly set upon and harassed that he is only too glad 
to beat a hasty retreat. During their quarrels these birds keep up an incessant 
sharp chirping, and a harsh rasping buzzing with the wings, which sounds 
very different from the low soft humming they make with these while 
feeding * * * During the mating and breeding season the male 
frequently shoots straight up into the air and nearly out of sight, only to 
turn suddenly and rush headlong down until within a few feet of the 
ground. The wings during the downward rushes cut the air and cause 
a sharp, whistling screech, as they descend with frightful velocity, and 
should they strike anything in their downward course, I believe they would 
be instantly killed.” 
a. Auk, Vol: EX, Jan. 1892, p: 4a: 
b. Bendire, Life Histories N. A. Birds, Vol. II., pp. 217, 218. 
