426 LAND BIRDS 
to watch the proceeding, as by that time the opening 
had been cut about half-way around, bringing the chick’s 
bill directly underneath and in the palm of my hand. 
When the shell had been cut four-fifths around, the chick 
succeeded in getting one claw hooked over the edge of 
the break, and, by one or two vigorous pushes, broke 
the remaining space, leaving in my hand two nearly equal 
parts of what had been a hummingbird’s egg, and a 
squirming something that bore no resemblance whatever 
to one of the peerless members of the genus Calypte. 
The entire operation of hatching consumed about fifteen 
minutes.” 
433. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. — Selasphorus rufus. 
Famity: The Hummingbirds. 
Length: Male 3.25-3.70; female 3.50-3.90. 
Adult Male: Gorget intensely brilliant flame-color, with orange and 
green lights; rest of plumage reddish brown, with bronze-green iri- 
descence on crown; a light band across the breast just below the 
gorget ; tail-feathers rufous, with dusky mesial streaks. 
Adult Female: Upper parts reddish brown and bronze; under parts 
whitish, washed with red brown on the sides; tail-feathers reddish 
brown for basal half; middle pair green extending nearly to base ; the 
three outer feathers tipped with white and banded with blackish ; 
belly white ; flanks and under tail-coverts light reddish brown. 
Young Male: Similar to adult female, but upper parts light reddish 
brown and darker on rump; throat with a few bright metallic red 
feathers. 
Young Female: Similar to young male, but rump green and throat dull 
green. : 
Geographical Distribution: Western North America, north to Alaska, 
east to Rocky Mountains, south through Mexico. 
California Breeding Range: The Boreal zone of the central and northern 
Sierra Nevada. 
Breeding Season: March to August. 
re 
