THE EUFOUS HUMMINGBIKD. 215 



nests now and then nearly a month earlier. A specimen in ray collection, taken 

 by Mr. G. H. Ready, at Woods Lagoon, near Santa Cruz, California, contained 

 fresh eggs on March 25, 1875. Throughout the greater part of their range, 

 excepting the more northern portions, the breeding season is at its height during 

 the first two weeks in May and lasts well into July, and two broods are probably 

 raised regularly, excepting perhaps in northern British Columbia and southern 

 Alaska. The nesting habits of the Rufous Hummingbird are very similar to 

 those of the preceding species, and their nesting sites may be looked for in low 

 bushes as well as on horizontal limbs of trees at various distances from the 

 ground. 



One of the most complete and interesting articles on the life history of this 

 species is that of Mr. H. W. Heushaw, in "The Auk" (Vol. Ill, 1886, pp. 76-78), 

 who inclines to the belief that the majority of these birds on the upper Pecos 

 River, New Mexico, breed in the upper limbs of the pines, and, although they 

 were exceedingly abundant there, he only found a single nest, and this only 

 after it had been deserted. I am also of the belief that in certain localities 

 they nest farther from the ground than Hummingbirds usually do. The only 

 nest found by me in the West was at Fort Lapwai, Idaho, as already stated. 

 This was saddled on a little- fork of a dry cottonwood twig, overhanging a creek, 

 about 15 feet above the water. 



Mr. A. W. Anthony writes' me: "I found the Rufous Hummingbird very 

 abundant at Beaverton, Oregon. Here they nested to some extent in oaks, 

 blackberry vines, and on dry roots projecting from upturned trees. One nest 

 hung from the end of a tall fern, while others, drooping over it from above, hid 

 the beautiful structure from all but accidental discovery. Their favorite sites, 

 however, seemed to be the long, trailing vines overhanging- emiiankments and 

 upturned trees. A number were found in railroad cuts; frequentl}^ several nests 

 were situated within a few feet of each other, a slight preference being shown 

 to embankments having a southern exposure. One nest was found that had 

 been placed on top of a last year's habitation, a mere rim being built to raise 

 the sides, and a flooring being added to cover up a large pebble that could be 

 plainly felt under the cotton lining. Fresh eggs were found here from May 1 

 to June 16." 



Dr. Clinton T. Cooke found one of their nests, near Salem, Oregon, on a 

 di'ooping limb of an ash tree, 20 feet from the ground; others were found in 

 waxberry and blackberry bushes. At Table Rock, in the Cascade Mountains, 

 they were very abundant on July 5, 1887, feeding on a CosteUei/a, in blossom 

 at the time. 



Mr. R. H. Lawrence met with the Rufous Hummingbird in various parts of 

 Washington, and writes me that it is very common there. His earliest record 

 was March 9, when they had already .reached Ilw.aco, in the southwestern part 

 of the State. In southern California this species was noticed by him near 

 Monrovia, on March 8, 1894, and at Duarte he often saw Rufous Hummers 

 flitting about the blossom-laden orange trees, in company with other Hum- 

 mers, in an orchard situated near the foothills. 



