GREEN, GREENISH GRAY, AND OLIVE 427 



Nest : In ferns, 'bushes, and vines, overhanging embankments, and some- 

 times in trees ; made of plant down, covered with mosses and lichens. 

 Eggs: 2 ; white. Size 0.50 X 0.33. 



The Rufous Hummingbird, also known as Cinnamon, 

 Nootka, and Rufous-backed, is the most widely distrib- 

 uted of all the family in North America. It is found 

 among the summer flowers of Alaska, and is common 

 even above the timber line in the southern Sierra Nevada. 

 Longitudinally it ranges from the east slope of the Rock- 

 ies to the interior valleys of the sierras and in some places 

 to the coast. 



In Central California nesting begins in March, and the 

 dainty structure of plant- down, lined with cotton down 

 and decorated profusely with fine mosses and bits of 

 lichen, is placed on the horizontal limb of a tree or low 

 bush. Farther north, Mr. Anthony has found it tucked 

 away in unique places, — on dry roots of upturned trees ; 

 on the end of a tall fern leaf where other leaves, drop- 

 ping over it, efiectually hid it ; in the long trailing vines 

 overhanging embankments; on the sunny side of rail- 

 road cuts ; and one little cradle had been built on top 

 of a last year's nest, " a mere rim being built to raise the 

 sides, and a flooring being added to cover up a large peb- 

 ble that could be plainly felt under the cotton lining." 



Three years ago this species was not definitely re- 

 corded as nesting within the borders of California, but 

 Mr. Grinnell now gives it as breeding in the Boreal zone 

 of the central and northern Sierra Nevada mountains. I 

 have found it in June at Lake Tahoe when there could 

 be no mistake in identification, as both male and female 



