74 University of California Publications in Zoology. [Vou.5 
whatever to do with nest-building or caring for the young. And 
on only one or two oceasions did I ever see a male invade the 
canon-bottom where the females were nesting, and then he was 
routed out by an irate mother. There were, however, neutral 
tracts on the upper slopes, red with castillejas and pentstemons, 
where the males and females were seen together, the former often 
in pursuit of the latter so swiftly as to give one but a moment’s 
impression of a filmy streak. 
The time of nesting seems to vary somewhat. Nests with 
egos, fresh or nearly so, were found June 11 to June 30 (1906) ; 
and nests with young, June 12 (1906) to July 4 (1905). Nine 
nests that I have record of varied in height above the ground 
from twenty-two inches (measured) to seventy feet (estimated) ; 
I should judge the average height to have been about thirty-five 
feet, as the majority were above that height. The nests were all 
in canons, though none were directly over or very near the water, 
as with some other species of hummingbirds. One was located in 
an alder, two in silver firs, and six in yellow and Jeffrey pines. 
They varied somewhat-as to composition and bulk, but were of 
similar consistency. An average nest has an internal diameter 
of .84 inch, and depth of .55; it consists externally of bits of 
bark, seed capsules, fibers and web, and internally of plant down, 
fibers, and a few down feathers. 
The eggs of the Calliope hummingbird are decidedly the 
smallest of any of our California species. Four sets of two eggs 
each measure as follows: .48 X .33, .47 X .33; .47 X .35, 46 X 
BG hs} Se a NS Se RR WO) Se BB Se Bh 
Nineteen skins of this species were taken. 
Tyrannus verticalis Say. Western Kingbird. 
This species did not appear in the region until after the 
breeding season, save for a pair seen at Big Meadows, 6800 feet 
altitude, July 6, 1907, and I was not sure these were nesting there. 
Around the east margin of Bear lake several kingbirds were seen 
July 27 to August 2, 1905. The prevailing west wind swept 
swarms of insects across the lake and the birds were taking ad- 
vantage of the abundant supply. At Cushenbury springs at the 
desert base of the mountains the western kingbird was seen daily, 
August 9 to 14. Two skins were taken, both juvenals. 
