ANNA'S HUMMINGBIED. 207 



Lately (September 27, 1892, at San Diego) I heard the song of this species. 

 It was harshe]' tlian the song of Trochilus alexandri or Cahjpte costcB and could 

 be heard further." 



Mr. RolloH. Beck, of Berryessa, California, says: "Anna's Hummingbird is 

 a common summer resident here, and a few remain through the winter. I often 

 notice these birds hunting for spiders among the evergreen trees near my home ; 

 they frequently visit the flowers about the houses in the valleys, and they also 

 have an abundance of wild ones to select from in the hills, from the time they 

 arrive in the spring until they leave in the fall. In March, when the Australian or 

 blue gum trees begin to blossom, this Hummer and the Rufus are very numer- 

 ous, chasing each other from tree to tree all day long ; all the time uttering their 

 notes of defiance or hatred. Although somewhat larger in size than the Rufus, 

 I believe the latter generally gets the best of it." 



Mr. A. W. Anthony has kindly sent me the following notes on Calypte 

 anna: "A nest of this species was found at San Quentin, Lower California, in a 

 cholla cactus growing within a few feet of the bay. A piece of cotton was 

 pushed down over the eggs to prevent their rolling out, and nest and all trans- 

 ferred to a box in my game bag. Upon arriving at my tent, an hoiir later, I was 

 somewhat disgusted to find one of the eggs pipped, and realizing the difficulty 

 of making a presentable specimen of it, was on the point of throwing it away, 

 when a movement on the part of the tiny creature within the shell suggested to 

 my mind that I hatch the e^g and find out for myself how baby Hummingbirds 

 come into the world. So far there was but a pin point broken, the rest of the 

 shell being intact; and it was several minutes before the warmth of my hand, 

 aided by my breath, produced another movement upon the part of the prospective 

 Hummer; first a feeble struggle, followed by an interval of rest; another squirm, 

 and the point of the bill came in view and was withdrawn; after a moment's 

 rest a new system was adopted, which consisted of turning around in the shell 

 from right to left, and cutting a clean, smooth opening with the sharp, horny tip 

 on the upper mandible; this operation was evidently hard work, and required 

 all the strength of the little mite, and frequent rests were necessary to recruit. 

 Sometimes an interval of twisting seemed to accomplish nothing, and it would 

 look as if all its struggles would be in vain, and I wondered whether the parent 

 would not render a little much-needed assistance at this stage; but after an 

 interval of rest the work would be continued with renewed vigor and another 

 millimetre cut toward the outer world. The cutting was all done in the same 

 direction, a.nd after about ten minutes I was obliged to turn the Qg^ over in my 

 hand in order to watch the proceedings, as by that time the opening had been 

 cut about half way around, bringing the chick's bill nearly underneath and in 

 the palm of my hand. When the shell had been cut four-fifths aroimd, the 

 chick succeeded in getting one claw hooked over the edge of the break, and by 

 one or two vigorous pushes broke the remaining shell, leaving in my hand two 

 nearly equal parts of what had been a Hummingbird's egg, and a squirming 

 something that bore no semblance whatever to one of the peerless members of 



