The Anna Hummer 
hummers in late December, and a prospect of nests by the first week in 
January, although not above one-tenth of the total population is involved 
so early. The earliest authentic record appears to be that of A. J. 
McCormick' who took two considerably incubated eggs near Los Angeles 
on the 21st day of December, 1895. Mr. W. Lee Chambers took a fresh 
set at Santa Monica on the 4th of January, 1903, and eleven other nests 
during the same month. The pace quickened sharply in February, when 
he found forty nests. Mr. J. H. Bowles gives January 5th, 1910, as his 
first record for a complete set at Santa Barbara; but on the 3rd of that 
month he saw a well-grown young bird which, although not in the nest, 
was receiving attention from its mother, and which must, therefore, have 
been an egg no later than the 26th of November. February and March 
are undoubtedly the months of general activity, but nesting goes right on 
without much regard to rhythm or order till July; and there is one record, 
that of H. Robertson, of Pasadena, for August 17, 1900. 
Anna enjoys the widest range in the choice of nesting sites. All 
the forest trees are utilized, but chiefly those within easy reach of streams. 
Sycamores are favorites, and the mountain laurels are not forgotten. 
The structure may be lashed to a twig no larger than a baling wire, 
or anchored more amply on a horizontal limb several inches in diameter. 
Anna has a fondness for sheltered places, though not so marked as that 
of Selasphorus alleni. Dangling rope ends under porches, electric light 
fixtures, hanging baskets, harness hooks, coils of wire in outbuildings, 
all these recall to the bird the choicest offerings of nature’s out-of-doors, 
and she will adventure them with only half a chance. The Potter 
Hotel of bygone fame had along its east aspect a verandah some thirty 
feet wide where guests promenaded freely, or listened to band concerts. 
Large windows from the lobby looked out upon the verandah, and oppo¬ 
site each, just outside, swung a graceful basket of drooping vines. Upon 
an underhanging tendril of one of these baskets an Anna Hummer wove 
a basket of her own and in it laid two valiant eggs. Here, twenty-five 
feet from sunshine, she held high court, now flashing off to seize a midge, 
now swapping compliments with important dowagers, or picking wistfully 
at their proffered jewels. Gilded youths paused before her in astonish¬ 
ment, while authentic financiers plucked fat cigars from their faces and 
said, “Well, what do you know about that!” I saw her on the 15th of 
April, but whether she succeeded in raising her children in that expensive 
atmosphere, or whether she was later evicted by the mighty Milo, I 
could not ascertain. 
It is not alone because the Anna Hummer is resident that it has 
endeared itself to the Californian. It is rather because of the amazing 
1 Grinnell, Pub. 2, Pasadena Acad. Sci., 1898, p. 28. 
944 
