210 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



434. Allen Hummingbird. Selasphorus alleni. 



Range. Pacific coast from British Columbia southward; most abundant in 

 California. Winters in Mexico. 



This species is like the last, 

 but the back is greenish, only 

 the tail being reddish brown. 

 These birds generally locate 

 their nests at low elevations 

 near the end of overhanging 

 branches, on vines, weed 

 stalks, or bushes, but have 

 been found as high as 90 feet 

 above ground. The nests of 

 this species are made of plant 

 fibres and cobwebs, generally 

 decorated with lichens. The 

 two white eggs measure .50 x 

 .32. Data. Santa Monica, 

 Cal., May 29, 1896. Nest two 

 feet from the ground in a sage 

 bush. Collector, W. Lee 

 Chambers. 



435. Morcom Hummingbird. Atthis morcomi. 



Range. This species is known only from a single specimen, taken in the 

 Huachuca Mountains, Arizona in 1896. 



436. Calliope Hummingbird. Stellula calliope. 



Range. Western United States from British Columbia southward, and from 

 the Rocky Mountains west to eastern Oregon and California. 



This is the smallest of North American Hummers, being but 3 inches in length. 

 It is greenish above and has a violet gorget showing the white bases of the 

 feathers. They build their nests in all manner of locations from high up in tall 

 pines to within a foot of the ground in slender bushes. The nests are made in- 

 teriorly with plant down, but the outside is generally grayish colored shreds and 

 lichens. The eggs average but a trifle smaller than those of colubris, .45 x .30. 



437. Lucifer Hummingbird. Calothorax lucifer. 



Range. Mexico, north to southwestern Texas and Arizona. 



This species, which is common in parts of Central Mexico, occurs only casually 

 north to our borders and has not yet been found nesting there. They build 

 small compact nests of plant down attached to the stalks or leaves of plants or 

 weeds. 



438. Reiffer Hummingbird. Amazilis tzacatl. 



Range. Abundant in southern Mexico; casual in southern Texas. 



This species is greenish above, with a bronzy lustre; the tail is reddish brown, 

 and the throat and breast are metallic green. They breed abundantly about 

 houses and nest apparently at all seasons of the year in Central America, where 

 they are the most common species of Hummers. 



