Auk 
Jan. 
14 Kospk, The Rufous Hummingbird. 
set is described as follows: I identified this set by a minute 
examination of the female as she sat on the nest. I used a pow- 
erful telescope and also examined her while she perched upon a 
telegraph wire. The only other species it could have been was 
Anna’s Hummingbird, but this specimen had. the rufous tinge 
on tail and under parts, so the identification is probably correct. 
The two eggs, one of which I broke before blowing, were rather 
thick and I should say the parent had been incubating for about 
four days. The eggs measure as follows: .49 X.32 and .48 X.33. 
The nest is composed externally of a large number of different 
substances and internally of the softest vegetable down. It was 
situated on the drooping branch of an araucaria tree eight feet 
from the ground and ten inches from the tip of the branch which 
extended directly over the middle of the walk. It measures as 
follows: — Diameter outside, 1.75 inches; diameter inside, 75 
of an inch. 
The second nest, taken upon the same day — April 10 — is 
described as follows: I identified this set in the same manner 
as I did the foregoing, but the parent of this one was so tame 
that she allowed me to approach within a few feet of her as she 
sat upon her nest, making the identification comparatively easy. 
On April 7 the nest contained a single egg and the second was 
not laid until three days after. These two eggs measure 
respectively .47 X.32 and .48 X.31. 
The composition of the nest is about the same as the one just 
described, excepting that this one has fewer spider webs on it, 
and it also has one or two small feathers in the lining. The nest 
was situated upon the drooping branch of a shrub (Virburnum 
tinus) four and one half feet from the ground and eleven inches 
from the tip of the branch. This nest, like the preceding one, 
was built near the sidewalk, but was very difficult to find. It 
measures as follows: Diameter outside, 1.50 inches; diameter 
inside, .87 of an inch; depth outside, 1.12 inches; depth inside, 
.75 of an inch. 
After taking the nest, I waited for the return of the parent, 
and when she came and found her home gone she flew about in 
small circles, scarcely moving an inch from the spot where the 
nest had been. She continued to do this for about five minutes, 
