376 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. 



tion for this one, which was built partly in the fork of one of the lower branches of an 

 alder tree, and situated between five and six feet from tl^e ground. A few feathers line 

 its interior. The eggs, as I have previouslj' stated, were somewhat advanced. They are 

 a trifle smaller than those of T. alexandri. As the male bird was not observed in the 

 neighborhood of the nest, and in order to dispel any doubt that may arise in respecting 

 this find, I will say that the female was taken and afterwards identiified, through the 

 kindness of Mr. Ridgway." 



A nest in the B. P. Goss Collection, now in the Public Museum of Milwaukee, found' 

 May 29, 1883, in San Diego Co., Cal., was placed in a sage bush overhanging a gulch. 

 It agrees with the description Mr. Gault has given in the foregoing. Compared with 

 the domiciles of Anna's and the Black-chinned Kingbird the nest is very small. 



NAMES: Costa's Hummingbird, Costa's Calypte (Gould), Costa's Hummer. 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Ornismya costx Bourc. (1839). CALYPTE COST^ Gould (1856). .4«li/s costee 

 Reichenb. (1853). 



DESCRIPTION: "Tail very slightly emarginated and rounded; exterior feathers very narrow, and linear. 

 A very long ruff on each side of the throat. Head above and below, with the ruff, covered with 

 metallic-red, purple and violet (sometimes steel-green). Remaining upper parts and sides of the body, 

 green. Throat under and between the ruffs, side of head behind the eye, anal region, and under tail- 

 coverts, whitish. Female with the tail rounded, scarcely emarginate; barred with black, and tipped 

 with white. The metallic colors of the head wanting. 



"Length, 3.20 inches; wing, 1.75; tail, 1.10; bill, .68." (B. B. & R., II, p. 457.) 



ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, 



Calypte anna Gould. 



Plate XXXIV. 



^HE mountains of California exhibit a grand displaj' of beautiful flowers almost 

 throughout the year. Different species of lilies, attaining in the pure mountain 

 air gigantic proportions, are found in great numbers along creeks and springs. The 

 wealth of cassiope, manzanita, ceanothus, adenostoma, etc., must be seen in order to 

 obtain an idea of the charming beauty of the mountain flora. In the sheltered and 

 mild valleys some flowers are found all the year round. Numerous bubbling brooks 

 intersect the magnificent forests with moss-covered stones and fern-clad nooks. Anna's 

 Hummingbird is a characteristic feature of these flowery wilds. Like an arrow it darts 

 along among the lilies and other flowers, poised on wings moving with almost invisible 

 velocit}', clothed in jDurple, silvery, or emerald glorj'. With startled look it is seen 

 gazing at the intruder, then with a sudden jerk, turning round first one eye, then the 

 other, disappears like a flash of light. 



This species is perhaps the most beautiful of all our North American Humming- 

 birds. It was named by Lesson after Anna, Duchesse de Rivoli, and is one of the most 

 abundant of the Hummingbirds occui'ring in California, where it remains throughout 



