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THE OOLOG1ST. 



The Oologist, 



A Monthly Magazine Devoted to 



OOLOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY. 



FRANK H.LATTIN, ALBION, N. Y. 

 Editor and Publisher. 



Correspondence and items of interest to the 

 student of Birds, their Nests and Eggs, solicited 

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Among the Hummingbirds. 



While in Santa Barbara, California, 

 during the season of '91 I had the pleas- 

 ure of being so situated that I could 

 spend a considerable amount of time in 

 the field, a privilege of which I gladly 

 availed myself. Among the numerous 

 birds that received my attention were 

 the various species of Hummers which 

 abounded in the vicinity. The mild 

 and tranquil climate of those southern 



coasts seems a fitting abode for these 

 gorgeous feathered gems, that every- 

 where flit about and vivify the semi- 

 tropic vistas. By the dense hedge-rows 

 iu the moist and shaded canons, over 

 the sun-crested hill-tops and the warm 

 wide fields, these fairy creatures loiter 

 in sportive mood, or wing their way on 

 sonorous pinions with incredible speed. 



Of the six species of Hummers found 

 in California, five are residents of the 

 vicinity of Santa Barbara; these are in 

 the order of their occurrence, Anna's, 

 Rufous, Allen's, Black-chinned, and 

 Costa's. Of these I collected sets of all 

 but the Rufous and the Costa's. 



Contrary to what appears to be the 

 popular impression, the Hummingbirds 

 are not summer nesters. In Southern 

 California, 1 believe, the Hummers nest 

 mostly in the months of March and Ap- 

 ril; however, the nests may be found as 

 early as January and as late as June, 

 perhaps later. 



During my wanderings in February I 

 located a nest of an Anna's in an oak 

 tree over-hanging a canon, but, it being 

 inaccessible, I made no effort to get it. 

 My first set was. collected on March 18. 

 A week or so previous to that date, I 

 had noticed an Allen's carrying material 

 to a cypress tree a short distance in 

 front of the house. I soon located the 

 .nest, which was about half finished, up- 

 on a twig about five feet from the 

 ground. While the nest was being 

 built, the bird would permit me to 

 draw near and watch her at work. 

 When bringing material she would fly 

 directly towards the nest, and with un- 

 diminished speed light upon it without 

 causing the slightest agitation, a feat 

 that is continually performed, even 

 when the nest contains eggs. After 

 resting a moment on the cottony mass, 

 the bird arranged the downy substance 

 with her bill and darted away after 

 more. The little structure was com- 

 pleted and on the 16th contained one 

 egg. Two days later the set was com- 



