96 FIELD AND FOREST. 



wins him the day. The selection of mates, not without many a jeal- 

 ous contest, goes on apace, and soon the happy pairs may be found in 

 the lower valleys, where the interval of sunny sky and spring weather 

 has wrought many marvelous changes in the flora; and now abundance 

 reigns where before was nothing but dry stalks and withered herbage. 



In searching for a site for its first nest — for Mr. Allen assures us that 

 two broods are reared in a season — this species shows the same prefer- 

 ence as displayed by most others of our representatives of the family, 

 and chooses the various evergreens, some building on the large Red- 

 wood and Cypress trees, and others selecting the ornamental ever- 

 greens of the gardens. The thick foliage of these doubtless adds 

 much to the security of the young at this early and oft times inclement 

 season. 



The taste that prompts them in the choice of material for their 

 nests, and the cunning that guides them in the bestowal of lichens and 

 bits of mosses on the outside, so as effectually to conceal it, are char- 

 acteristic of the family at large. In fact, the uniformity of structure 

 to be observed in the nests throughout this family is quite note- 

 worthy, forming in this respect quite a contrast to the great variabil- 

 ity of design, materials and choice of position to be noted in almost 

 all other groups. So that the nest of the present speeies need not be 

 described, farther than to recognize its general correspondence to the 

 type. A nest before me, collected by Mr. Allen, and containing the 

 usual two white eggs, is a marvel of beauty and taste. 



Nor need we dwell upon the care and attention which are so lavishly 

 displayed by the present species, as by all the Humming Birds, on 

 their offspriag. Both parents will usually be found near the nest, over 

 which they keep a jealous watch and ward, and are ever ready to do 

 battle for their eggs or young. 



Later, when the young of the first hatching are well on the wing, a 

 change of locality is rendered necessary by the scarcity of flowers. 

 The hills and open valleys, so bright but a while ago with the blos- 

 soms and verdure of spring, now, from the effects of the drought and 

 hot sun, become seared and brown, and to an eastern eye would re- 

 call nothing but the usual death of vegetation attendant on approach- 

 ing winter. 



But this is no new experience to our Humming Birds, and knowing 

 all about it not a whit do they care. Away go the restless imps to the 



