430 LAND BIRDS 
Monterey northward. So far as I can ascertain, it is the 
only hummingbird resident on Santa Catalina Island, and 
it was the only species I found there. A nest of this spe- 
cies that I saw was built on the pendent twigs of the fine- 
leaved eucalyptus. It was placed on top of a bunch of 
the seed pods and woven to them with fine spider web 
and silk from cocoons. Deeper and smaller around than 
any other I have seen, it measured a trifle less than one 
and a half inches in diameter and the same in outside 
depth. Inside, the cup was nearly an inch in depth. 
There was no lining, but the fibre of the white and buffy 
plant down composing it was more apparent and less 
compact than is usual in hummingbirds’ nests. Outside, 
it was covered with bits of blossoms and strips of bark 
of hair-like fineness, making it so nearly the color of the 
grayish green seed pods that only an accidental discovery 
was possible. 
These hummingbirds are nervous, pugnacious little 
mites, not tolerating any other species near them, and 
more or less quarrelsome among themselves; nor will 
the female allow her mate to come near the nest or feed 
at the same flower patch where she is feasting. They 
may be distinguished from the rufous by the bright 
metallic green of the back as well as by the difference in 
their breeding range. 
Mr. Charles A. Allen, who discovered this species and 
in whose honor it has been named, writes of it: “ Their 
courage is beyond question. I once saw two of these 
warriors start after a Western red-tailed hawk, and they 
atiacked it so vigorously that the hawk was glad to get 
