GREEN, GREENISH GRAY, AND OLIVE 429 
I could not decide. The blackbird did not resent the 
assault, but seemed to endure it complacently, as the big 
man did his small wife’s beating. Unfortunately I was 
not able to see the end of the matter, as I left the lo- 
ceality on June 16, while the mother was still brooding. 
This pair of hummingbirds did what I have seen no 
others do,— either they really bathed, or, going down to 
the surface of the water for small insects, they seemed to 
be bathing. There was no splashing, but they hovered 
a moment on the surface with rapidly beating wings, 
wetting their feet and bellies; then they flew away and 
lit on a sunny perch to preen. 
434, ALLEN HUMMINGBIRD. — Selasphorus alleni. 
Famity: The Hummingbirds. 
Length: Male 3.25-3.30; female 3.40. 
Adult Male: Back and crown bright bronzy green ; under parts reddish 
brown, lightest next to gorget ; gorget brilliant flame-color, changing 
to orange and green, 
Adult Female: Similar to female rufous. 
Geographical Distribution : Coast belt from Monterey northward to Brit- 
ish Columbia ; migrant through Southern California ; permanent resi- 
dent on Santa Catalina Island. 
California Breeding Range: In the humid coast region from Monterey 
north through the San Francisco Bay district ; also on Santa Catalina. 
Breeding Season: February to August. 
Nest: Cup-shaped, small in diameter and deep; made of plant down ; 
covered with spider webs and bits of moss; placed on small twigs, 
weed stalks, and often on the seed pods of the fine-leaved eucalyptus. 
Eggs: 2; white. Size 0.55 & 0.35. 
Tue Allen Hummingbird is only a summer resident 
of the United States, spending the winter months over 
the table-lands of Mexico. It breeds wherever resident, 
and in California is found oftenest along the coast from 
