382 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. 



the close of the season the male birds show little wear and tear, and are in prime con- 

 dition as regards their plumage. 



"If they have occasion to fear each other— and sometimes I have thought they 

 fight merely for the pure fun of it — they fear nothing else. About our camp, where were 

 a few clumps of the Scropbalaria, they were especially fearless, and provided one 

 remained reasonably quiet, they would approach within two or three feet. When in 

 such proximity, their sharp eyes were constantly on the watch, and a hostile movement 

 sent them away like streaks of flame. By gradual approach, however, I was able oti 

 several occasions to strike one down with my hat and secure it uninjured before it 

 recovered either presence of mind or strength to get on wing, 



"Some idea of the number of Hummingbirds in this locality— and in this respect 

 this whole mountain area is alike — may be gained from the statement that in a single 

 clump of the Scrophularia I have counted eighteen Hummers, all within reach of a 

 ordinary fishing rod. There was scarcely a moment in the day when upwards of fifty 

 could not be counted within the area of a few yards in any of the patches of this 

 common plant. 



"As to their nesting, it is a curious and almost unaccountable fact that, notwith- 

 standing their great numbers, we found but a single nest, and this after it was deserted. 

 Inquiry among the settlers showed that they had never chanced upon their nests, and 

 I judge that the greater part nest, as I found to be the case in Arizona, in the upper 

 limbs of the pines ; occasionally they nest lower. The one I found was on a dead aspen, 

 not more than ten feet from the ground. At the time when they are building, their 

 nests may be readily found. One has only to follow the birds straight to their nesting- 

 sites as they bear away material in the shape of conspicuous tufts of cottony down 

 from the willows." 



The favorite nesting site of the Rufous Hummingbird is along the banks of creeks 

 and mountain streams, on the overhanging branches of trees and bushes. Mr. A. W. 

 Anthony, who found the bird very numerous in Washington Co., Oregon, found nests 

 in ferns, in bushes and trees, and in vines overhanging embankments. The latter, he 

 says, seems to be the favorite locality, as he found six nests in an old railroad cut, in 

 May and June. The materials used are willow-floss and soft plant-down. Almost all 

 the nests are covered with lichens, which resemble the small branches of moss in the 

 trees where they are built. Mr. Ridgway's portrait on Plate XXXV of the nest is an 

 excellent reproduction, and gives a good idea of the typical structure. 



NAMES: Rufous Hummingbird, Nootka Sound Hummingbird, Ruff-necked Hummingbird, Cinnamon, or 

 Nootka Hummingbird, Rufous-backed Hummingbird, Rufous Flame-bearer (Gould). 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Trocbilus rufus Gmel. (1788J. Trochilus (SBLASPHORUS) RUFUS Swains. (1831). 

 Selasphorus rufus Aud. (1839). Selaspborus hensbawi Elliot (1877). 



DESCRIPTION: "Tail, strongly cuneate and wedge-shaped. Upper parts, lower tail-coverts, and breast, 

 cinnamon. A trace of metallic-green on the crown, which sometimes extends over the back, never on 

 the belly. Throat, coppery-red, with a well-developed ruff of the same; below this a white collar. 

 Tail-feathers,- cinnamon, edged or streaked with purplish-brown. Female with the rufous of the back 

 covered or* replaced with green ; less cinnamon on the breast. Traces only of metallic feathers on 

 the throat. Tail, rufous, banded with black and tipped with white ; middle feathers glossed with green 

 at the end. Tail still cuneate. 



"Length of male, 3.50 inches; wing, 1.55; tail, 1.30 inches." (B. B. & R., II, p. 450.) 



