'The Allen Hummer 
and of crystallized experience than may be put into a hundred books, 
or paintings either. 
Enter with me one of those narrow canyons in the Santa Ynez 
Mountains. We will call it an early May day, although that is between 
seasons for Allens, and a little early for Costas. A tiny mountain stream 
babbles over boulders, or gathers darkling in pools under the shade'of 
sycamores, bays, live oaks, and alders. The sides of the canyon, now 
steep, or briefly precipitous, now sloping and climbable, are occupied 
by live oaks and ceanothus, with a score of flowering shrubs and a host 
of bright-hued mints, with sages. Under all, there is the tangle and 
pluck of wild blackberry vines, and these festoon the lesser cliffs, or face 
you with impenetrable jungles in the open glades. Here Hummers of 
four species breed. The Black-chins, lately come, are pitching their 
yellow tents (upside down) in the sycamores and live oaks, without 
much regard to the water. The Anna Hummers nest anywhere, at any 
height, save on the ground, or in the vines, but they care less for shade 
and retirement than do the other species, and their ranks will lessen as 
we ascend the canyon. Costa Hummers in such circumstances hug 
close to the water, weaving their little baskets on a descending branch 
of a willow or a bay tree whose tips nearly drag the water. As for the 
Allen Hummer the blackberry tangles are her home, and all such other 
situations as assure a measure of protection from above. Thus, drooping 
vines falling over boulders offer ideal sites; for alleni is also fond of a 
swing. The most remarkable nest of our experience, a five-story one, 
was saddled upon the hook of a broken root, which was, in turn, caught 
upon a sprangle of roots above, unearthed by the under-cutting of the 
stream. This root could be lifted clear and replaced without injur} 7 ; 
and its mistress added, in one season, stories No. 4 and No. 5, to our 
knowledge. 
Hummingbirds are passionately fond of their old nesting sites, 
and will, apparently, use old nests by preference, whenever these have 
escaped the attention of larger birds intent upon gathering nesting 
materials. Sometimes, in default of their own nests which have 
been destroyed, they will help themselves to others. One such nest, 
a three-story affair, found by J. Hooper Bowles, was started in 1910, by 
a Black-chinned Hummer. Mr. Bowles found the nest in June of 1911 
with a second story occupied by an Anna Hummer, with two fresh eggs, 
which were not disturbed. Thereafter a Black-chin, presumably the 
original owner, returned to add a third story and to raise a brood. Allen 
Hummers are less frequently partners in these composite arrangements, 
and I have no certain instance where an Allen was the aggressor. On 
the other hand, the Allen Hummer is more successful than any other in 
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