GREEN, GREENISH GRAY, AND OLIVE 425 
or two, and ventured farther into the world of flowers. 
The mother still fed them, but now they seemed to help 
themselves from her bill rather than to have the food 
pumped or shaken into their throats. They now called 
in the squeaky tones of a young mouse, and the appeal 
never failed to bring the mother instantly to their side. 
Although I have been interested in several broods from 
start to finish, [ have never seen one of the eggs hatch 
and certainly never incubated one. Mr. A. W. Anthony 
has done both, and has described the process so well that 
I quote it entire: 
“A nest of this species [Anna Hummingbird] was 
found and transferred, eggs and all, to my game bag. 
An hour later I was somewhat disgusted to find one of 
the eggs pipped, and was about to throw it away, when 
a movement on the part of the tiny creature in the shell 
suggested that I hatch the egg and find out how baby 
hummingbirds come into the world. So far there was but 
a pin point broken, and it was several minutes before the 
warmth of my hand produced another movement on 
the part of the prospective hummer. First a squirm and 
the point of the bill came into view and was withdrawn ; 
after a moment's rest there, a new system was adopted 
which consisted of a turning in the shell from right to 
left, and cutting a clean, smooth opening with the sharp 
horny tip on the upper mandible. This was hard work 
and required all the strength of the little mite, and fre- 
quent rests were necessary to recruit. The cutting was 
all done in the same direction, and after about ten minutes 
I was obliged to turn the egg over in my hand in order 
