218 LIFE HISTOEIES OP FORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



that they are as mad as can be; the poor Anna Hummers have to get out of 

 their way pretty quickly at any time, but especially when they encroach on theu- 

 breeding grounds. The males very often have quarrels among themselves, and 

 are then very noisy, while the females are more orderly and quiet; but even 

 they have occasional little misunderstandings with each other, especially when 

 a pair meet while feeding on the same bush; one generally vacates the prem- 

 ises very quickl}^, and as soon as she does all becomes quiet again. During the 

 mating and breeding season the male ^frequently shoots straight up into the air 

 and nearly out of sight, only to turn suddenly and rush headlong down until 

 within a few feet of the ground. The wings during the downward rushes cut 

 the air and cause a sharp, whistling screech, as they descend with frightful veloc- 

 ity, and should they strike anything on their downward course I believe they 

 would be instantly killed."^ 



All the nests and eggs of this species in the United States National Museum 

 were taken by Mr. Allen near Nicasio, California; one of these, now before me, 

 is attached to the side of a small oak limb which turns abruptly at an angle of 

 about 45° directly over the cup of the nest, protecting it above; another is like- 

 wise attached to the side of a small pendant oak twig, its base being supported 

 by a bunch of moss. Some are securely saddled on small twigs of raspberry 

 bushes, and several of these are usually incorporated in the walls of the nest. 

 Occasionally they nest in hedges, on weed stalks, or on bushes overhanging 

 water. 



The nests are well and compactly built, the inside being lined with vegeta- 

 ble down, while the outer walls are composed of green tree mosses and a few 

 bits of lichens, securely fastened in place with a spider web. Nests built on 

 trees seem to be generally somewhat larger than those found in bushes. The 

 average measurements of one of the former is IJ inches outer diameter and the 

 same in depth; the inner cup is seven-eighths of an inch in width by three- 

 fourths of an inch in depth. On the whole they resemble the nests of Anna's 

 Hummingbird more than those of the Rufous, and appear to me to be better and 

 more neatly built than either. , 



The eggs of Allen's Hummingbird resemble those of the other members of 

 this family in color and shape, and are a trifle larger than those of the Rufous 

 Hummingbird. 



The average measurement of fifteen specimens in the United States National 

 Museum collection is 12.76 by 8.50 millimetres, or about 0.50 by 0.33 inch. 

 The largest egg measures 13.97 by 8.89 millimetres, or 0.55 by 0.35 inch; the 

 smallest, 12.45 by 8.13 millimetres, or 0.49 by 0.32 inch. 



The type specimen. No. 27009 (not figured), Ralph collection, from a set 

 of two eggs, was taken near Nicasio, California, on April 13, 1893. 



' A very interesting account of the habits of this species in captivity can be found in an article by Mrs. 

 C. M. Crowell in the Ornithologist and Oologist fVol. 7, 1882, pp. 126-128). 



