"2IO General Notes. [July 



it, as its manners were quite similar to those of other Hummingbirds of 

 my acquaintance." He also says, -'You will find two nests described by 

 Mr. Ridgway (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. V, p. 542). These nests, 

 like all I have seen, were in shrubs or small trees, the highest only about 

 six feet from the ground, in a palo-verde, or gum tree. Each of the nests 

 described held two eggs; but I lost or broke one from each nest." 



So it would seem from this that Mr. Belding met with mishaps as 

 well as myself. 



Arrow-head Hot Springs are distant about five miles from the town of 

 San Bernardino, lying a mile or so up the side of the San Bernardino 

 Mountains. In the neighborhood of the Springs are several small canons, 

 running back into the mountains, the sides of which are clothed with 

 such trees as alder, sycamore, and mountain laurel. Among these the 

 Black-chinned Hummer {Trochilns alexandri), as well as the Costa, were 

 breeding quite abundantly, and building their nests in close proximity to, 

 or overhanging, a beautiful mountain stream, which wound its way down 

 between and over the mighty boulders. The locality was extremely pic- 

 turesque. These Hummers constituted about all of the bird life of the 

 canon. 



Speaking of one set of eggs of C. costa? being accidentally shaken out 

 of the nest recalls to mind an incident which I also find in my field note- 

 book, viz : — 



"We had been noting how persistent the females were in occupying 

 their nests, even after they had been frightened away from them several 

 times. In one case I held my hand about a foot from one while she was 

 on the nest, without any fear being evinced on her part, until an attempt 

 was made to catch her; this manceuver was repeated a number of times, 

 when she would always return to the nest and sit there as unconcernedly 

 as possible. Finally my companion struck at her with his hat and hit 

 her, at the saine time striking the bough that the nest was on, precipitat- 

 ing her and the eggs into the stream below." A most tragic end, indeed, 

 to such a peaceful existence! 



Incubation was very far advanced in this set, as was proven by one of the 

 eggs dropping upon a flat stone near the water's edge, on which a well- 

 formed chick was deposited, which would have hatched in a day or two. 



The nest containing the two eggs saved, which is now before me, meas- 

 ures 1.60 inches in diameter externally; 1 inch in internal diameter; 

 and .60 of an inch deep on the inside. In make-up it is altogether different 

 from any Hummer's nest that I ever saw, being destitute of all cottony and 

 downy substances usually employed by Hummingbirds in constructing 

 their dwellings. 



In this case the main body of the nest has the appearance of a mass of 

 spider webs, small bits of dried leaves, and leaf-bud scales, interwoven 

 in a compact mass. By examination, I also find that the birds have util- 

 ized the remains of an old nest in forming the foundation for this one, 

 which was built partly in the fork of one of the lower branches of an alder 

 tree, and situated between five and six feet from the ground. A few feath- 

 ers line its interior. 



