GREEN, GREENISH GRAY, AND OLIVE 429 



I could not decide. The blackbird did not resent the 

 assault, but seemed to endure it complacently, as the big 

 man did his small wife's beating. Unfortunately 1 was 

 not able to see .the end of the matter, as I left the lo- 

 cality on June 16, while the mother was still brooding. 



This pair of hummingbirds did what I have seen no 

 others do, — either they really bathed, or, going down to 

 the surface of the water for small insects, they seemed to 

 be bathing. There was no splashing, but they hovered 

 a moment on the surface with rapidly beating wings, 

 wetting their feet and bellies ; then they flew away and 

 lit on a sunny perch to preen. 



434. ALLEN HUMMINGBIRD.— Selasphorus alleni. 

 Family : The Hummingbirds. 



Length: Male 3.25-3.30 ; female 3.40. 



Adult Male : Back and crown bright bronzy green ; under parts reddish 

 brown, lightest next to gorget ; gorget brilliant flame-color, changing 

 to orange and green. 



Adult Female: Similar to female rufous. 



Geographical Distribution .- Coast belt from Monterey northward to Brit- 

 ish Columbia ; migrant through Southern California ; permanent resi- 

 dent on Santa Catalina Island. 



California Breeding Range: In the humid coast region from Monterey 

 north through the San Francisco Bay district ; also on Santa Catalina. 



Breeding Season : February to August. 



Nest: Cup-shaped, small in diameter and deep; made of plant down ; 

 covered with spider webs and bits of moss ; placed on small twigs, 

 weed stalks, and often on the seed pods of the fine-leaved eucalyptus. 



Eggs: 2; white. Size 0.55 X 0.35. 



The Allen Hummingbird is only a summer resident 

 of the United States, spending the winter months over 

 the table-lands of Mexico. It breeds wherever resident, 

 and in California is found oftenest along the coast from 



