GREEN, GREENISH GRAY, AND OLIVE 431 



out of their way. And these little scamps were not 

 satisfied even then, but helped him long after he had 

 decided to go. Each male seems to claim a particular 

 range which he occupies for feeding and breeding pur- 

 poses, and every other bird seen by him encroaching on 

 his preserve is at once determinedly set upon, and is 

 only too glad to beat a hasty retreat. During their 

 quarrels these birds keep up an incessant sharp chirping 

 and a harsh rasping buzzing with their wings, which 

 sounds very different from the low, soft humming they 

 make with these while feeding. . . . During the breed- 

 ing season the male frequently shoots straight up into 

 the air and nearly out of sight, only to turn suddenly 

 and rush headlong down until within a few feet of the 

 ground. The wings during the downward rushes cut 

 the air and cause a sharp whistling screech as they 

 descend with frightful rapidity, and should they strike 

 anything on their downward course, I believe they would 

 be instantly killed." 



436. CALLIOPE nVMMmGBlRD.—Stellula calliope. 



Family : The Hummingbirds. 



Length: Male 3.00 ; female 3.50. 



Adult Male : Gorget pinkish purple, streaked with white ; upper parts 



iridescent green ; under parts white, washed with hrown and green on 



the sides ; tail-feathers dusky. 

 Adult Female : Upper 'parts bronzy green ; tail rounded ; tail-feathers, 



except the middle pair, tipped with white and banded with black ; 



throat whitish, sometimes spotted centrally with dull metallic purple. 

 Young : Similar, but under parts washed with reddish brown and throat 



speckled with darkish. 

 Geographical Distribution : Mountainous regions of Western North Amer- 

 ica, east to Rocky Mountains ; south through California, Arizona, and 



New Mexico to Mexico. 



