f)0 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 7 



lowlands to the .summits of the mountains but most abundant in the foothill 

 regions, where it breeds in the eanons in some years by the thousands. Nests are 

 generally situated near a stream and are found mostly after the middle of May. 

 The abundance of the hummingbirds is very variable, depending on the growth of 

 flowering plants. Usually after a wet winter they are far more numerous than 

 after a dry one. This species arrives in the vicinity of Pasadena from the middle 

 of April to the first week in May and the majority disappear by the last of July. 

 Extreme records at Pasadena are April 3 (1895), and September 3 (1895). By 

 the first of July when the vegetation of the foothills becomes dry and flowers 

 cease to bloom, the hummingbirds are found in countless thousands at higher 

 elevations (6000 to 8500 feet) where summer is just dawning" (Pub. 2, Pasa- 

 dena Acad. Sci., 1898, 27). Extreme nesting dates are as follows: Two sets, of 

 two fresh eggs each, taken by G. Willett at Arcadia, Los Angeles County, April 

 26, 1906, and set of two fresh eggs taken by Antonin Jay near Whittier, Los 

 Angeles County, July 19, 1903. 



202. (430) Calypte costae (Bourcier). Costa Hummingp.ird. 



Common summer resident of the mesa and foothill regions and brush cov- 

 ered washes, ranging from the lowlands to the higher mountains during migra- 

 tions. Less common in northern Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Eggs 

 are generally deposited in May and the first part of June. J. Grinnell's earliest 

 and latest records for the species in the vicinity of Pasadena are, respectively, 

 March 21 (1896) and September 26 (1896) (Pub. 2, Pasadena Acad. Sci.. 1898, 

 28). N. S. Goss took a male at San Diego, March 17. 1884 (Belding, Land Bds. 

 Pac. Dist., 1890, 83), and J. Grinnell saw an adult male on San Clemente Island, 

 March 30. 1897 (Pub. 1. Pasadena Acad. Sci., 1897. 15). T found this hummer 

 rather common in the cactus patches on Santa FJarbara Island during June, 1911. 

 On June 19, I noticed a female feeding young just able to fly. H. Robertson took 

 a set of eggs near Pasadena, April 19, 1899, and J. Grinnell took two slightly 

 incubated eggs in the same localitv, June 28, 1894 ( Pub. 2, Pasadena Acad. Sci., 

 1898, 28). " 



203. (431) Calypte anna (Lesson). Anna Hummingbird. 



Common throughout the year from the lowlands to the foothills, and, in the 

 latter part of June and the month of July, may be found up to 9000 feet in the 

 mountains. Fairly plentiful in winter on the vSanta Barbara Islands. "Like all 

 hummingbirds it follows the flowers and its local i)resence or absence is governed 

 by their abundance or scarcity. In August and September hundreds of Anna 

 Hummers are to be found in the stubble fields and sunflower patches, attracted 

 l)y the flowers of the 'tar-weed'. During the winter months they are found in 

 profusion around the blossoming eucalyptus trees. In January and February, 

 when the weather is mild, they appear high on the mountain sides among the 

 flowering manzanitas and in March and April in the blossoming orange groves 

 in the valley and among the currant bushes on the hill sides" (Grinnell, Pub. 2, 

 Pasadena Acad. Sci., 1898. 28). The Anna Hummer is our earliest breeding 

 bird. It nests commonly through February and March, and eggs may be found 

 from December until late in July. A. I. McCormick took two considerably in- 



