The Rufous Hummer 
in summer and fall chiefly along the mountain ranges. In spring the 
species arrives early (March and even February), and some individuals 
are still about till early May. The return migration begins the last 
week of June (old males, followed in two or three weeks by females and 
young-of-the-year).” He also adds: “It is quite possible that rufus 
breeds in the Boreal zone along the central Sierra Nevada.” Of course 
all things are “possible” in a State where the Great Grey Owl (Scotiaptex 
nebulosa nebulosa ) could be found breeding, and for the first time within 
the limits of the United States, after having escaped notice for seventy- 
five years. But the fact remains, there are no records. 
The circumstances would de¬ 
ceive the very elect. I have seen 
the Rufous Hummer 
at Santa Barbara on 
the 28th of February 
(Mr. Swarth has a 
record at Los Angeles 
of February 20); and 
again, the same 
season, 1914, on the Pajaro 
River near Watsonville, on 
the 20th of May. Yet 
these were not breeding 
records. Like so many 
other species having a wide 
vertical or north and south 
distribution in summer, early 
arrivals from the winter quar¬ 
ters hasten on to begin breeding 
in the southern part of the 
summer range; 
knowing that their summer 
quarters are untenable sooner, linger in the south and pass ultimately 
over the heads of their resident fellows, to occupy the extreme northern 
portions of the range. We may not, however, assume the converse, as 
in the case of certain Limicohz. At least we should rather suppose that 
the early July migrants which appear on Shasta and the Sierras, as well 
as the San Bernardino-Jacinto ranges, are birds which, having bred in 
the lowlands of Oregon and Washington, are combining a vertical 
migration with a leisurely southern movement. Food conditions on 
Mt. St. Elias are more favorable in August than they are, say, in the 
vicinity of Seattle or Victoria. 
while others, 
NEST OF RUFOUS HUMMER ON FIR BRANCH 
933 
