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SELASPHORUS PLATYCERCUS. 



Tieously ascertained to extend through 'New Mexico, wLere Dr. W. W. 

 Anderson obtained it, at Canton Burgwyn, to Fort Bridger, then Utah, 

 now in the new Territory of Wyoming, where Mr. C. Drexler secured 

 examjjles. In June, 1864, I fonnd it on the very summit of the Kocky 

 Mountains of New Mexico, at Whipple's Pass. It appeared to be quite 

 common; many were seen feeding among the wild roses then in full 

 bloom, and excellent examples were procured. I did not recognize it at 

 Fort Whipple, where the other species of the genus, 8. ru/tts, was num- 

 erous through the summer. Dr. Cooper found it at Lake Tahoe, at an 

 altitude of 6,000 feet, -where it was breeding, his specimens being young. 

 He records his anticipation of its extension northward to tlie Blue 

 Mountains, near Snake River, in Oregon. Mr. Allen found it common 

 at Ogden, Utah, in September, at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and also in 

 Park County, Colorado, where he saw it repeatedly among the flowers 

 growing far above the timber-line of Mount Lincoln, as more fully 

 stated in the following memorandum he obligingly gave nie : 



'• The Broad-tailed Hummer was common from Cheyenne southward 

 along the base of the mountains to Colorado City, and thrcughout the 

 mountains was everywhere abundant, even to above the timber-line. 

 Its flight is exceedingly swift, and characterized by a sharp whistling 

 sound ; but in all other respects it might be readily mistaken for the 

 common Ruby-throat of the East. Its nest was not discovered, but 

 hardly a day passed without a considerable number of the birds being 

 observed, often several individuals being in sight at once. The great 

 abundance of flowers throughout the mountain valleys, and which here 

 and there also nearly cover the ground, even far above the limit of trees 

 on the Snowy Range, renders this mountain region highly favorable to 

 the existence of this interesting species, and offer's a ready explanation 

 of its abundant occurrence here." Cur last record is a note, by Mr. C. 

 H. Holden, relating to his observations among the Black Hills : 



" These little birds were quite common. On one occasion, while 

 skinning a Hawk, I threw a piece'of flesh into a small dead tree near 

 me. In an instant three of the birds were poised before the meat, mis- 

 taking it, no doubt, for some gaudy flower. But one nest was found. 

 It contained two young ones about a week old. I was struck by the 

 wisdom displayed by the birds in placing their nest. A small tree had 

 fallen over the brook, which was here eight feet wide. The nest was 

 placed on one of the under branches in such a way that the trunk of 

 the tree would effectually keep out the rain. The nest was liued with 

 a species of cotton obtained in the vicinity." Mr. Trippe writes as fol- 

 lows from Colorado : 



S. platycercus. Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Abundant; migratory; 

 breeds. The Broad-tailed Hummingbird arrives in the vicinity of 

 Idaho Springs about the middle of May, and extends upward as the sea- 

 son advances, reaching timber-line by the 15th of June, and during 

 summer roaming far above it. It is very common, and universally dis- 

 tributed, wandering over all the mountainsides and throughout all the 

 valleys; and even penetrating at times the depths of the forest — in 

 short, wherever it can find flowers, it is at home. The sound produced 

 by its wings is very peculiar, and quite unlike the humming of the 

 Euby throat; it is a loud, rattling noise, more like the shrill chirrup of 

 a locust than the buzzing of wings. It is an expert insect-catcher, and 

 ^frequently perches on the dead limb of a tree, or some tall, dry bush, 

 whence it keeps a sharp lookout for passing insects, which it pursues 

 with lightning-like rapidity, and after capturing them returns to the 

 same perch. At times it- utters a sharp, quick note, especially when 

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