The Calliope Hummer 
“The female Calliopes are wont to stay 
in the ravines and canons where the 
streams are lined with columbines; while 
the dashing males each have a val¬ 
iantly defended patch of gooseberries 
or manzanitas, high on the mountain 
side. The males are pugnacious, 
and each has his own flower preserve 
and regular perch (on some bush-tip) 
from which he drives all intruders, 
whether of his own species or another. 
As far as my observations went I saw 
not the least evidence that the male 
has anything whatever to do with nest¬ 
building or caring for the young. And 
on only one or two occasions did 1 ever 
see a male invade the canon-bottom 
where the females were nesting, and 
then he was routed out by an irate 
mother.” 
The wing-buzz of a female 
Calliope leaving her nest has also 
a distinctive character, and a sweet 
one to the discriminating ear of 
Taken in San Bernardino Mis. Photo by W. M. Pierce the OologlSt. It Was in this Way 
nest of calliope hummer that I found my first one years ago, 
showing typical protection afforded by in companv with Mr. lack Bowles, in 
OVERSHADOWING BRANCH ^ J J 
a Washington glade. The nest was 
saddled on a slender descending branch of a red birch tree, at a point 
seven feet out from the trunk, and at least twelve feet from the ground. 
The bird returned to her nest repeatedly as we stood about speculating, 
and we felt sure she had eggs. The only way to reach the prize was from 
below, and for this Jack generously offered to hold up a stout pole which 
I cut hard by. I mounted this hastily, and after mussing the patient 
man’s features with my struggling boots, brought one brogan to rest on 
his shoulder, while the other sought lodgment upon a knot which pro¬ 
jected at least a quarter of an inch from the pole. Then from this infirm 
but pious support, and being mightily upborne by aspiration, I clutched at 
the prize overhead with both hands. Determined to secure a portion 
of the birch limb with the nest, I tucked in a piece of cotton about the eggs, 
exercising therein such composure as I could command in view of trembling 
knees and a stream of considerate, soft cuss-words which had begun to 
Q20 
