Nesting Time, 



thorn; so the birds were compelled 

 to abandon their work and commence 

 anew. Both species of humming-birds 

 evidently raise two broods in a season, 

 as fresh eggs are often found as late 

 as the first week of June. Think of 

 the vitality of the little Allen's hum- 

 mer, one of the tiniest of North 

 American birds, to fly from Central 

 America or Mexico to northern Cali- 

 fornia, build its nest and rear two broods 

 of young, all in the short space of five 

 months ! 



Another tiny breeder of March is 

 the California bush-tit, which begins the 

 construction of its elaborate, pendulous 

 nest early in the month. The eggs are 

 plain white, delicately flushed with pink 

 when fresh, and often number as many 

 as eight or nine. 



The plain titmouse, another resident 

 species, commences nest building late 

 in March or early in April. It is a 

 very common bird among the live-oaks 

 and has a sweet, high-pitched, vivacious 

 202 



