May, 1893.] BIRDS OF THE DEATH VALLEY EXPEDITION. 57 



Besting Springs in the Amargosa Desert, California, February 13 ; a 

 number were seen in the Funeral Mountains March 22; at Furnace 

 Creek, Death Valley, April 12; and in Emigrant Gallon, in the Pana- 

 mint Mountains, April 14. It was common in Johnson and Surprise 

 canons, where it was seen near all the springs and streams during 

 April, and in the latter canon a half-completed nest was found April 

 19. Several were seen at Hot Springs in Panamint Valley, April 19-25, 

 and at Leach Point Spring April 25. Costa's hummingbird was the 

 only species met with by Mr. Nelson in the Panamint and Grapevine 

 Mountains, where he found it a common breeder, during May and June. 



In Nevada, Dr. Merriam found it tolerably common on Mount Ma- 

 gruder June 4-8 ; in Pahranagat Valley May 22-25 ; at Mountain Spring, 

 Charleston Mountains, and at Upper Cottonwood Springs at the east- 

 ern base of these mountains, April 30. In Vegas Wash he found a 

 nest containing two full-fledged young May 3; at the Bend of the Colo- 

 rado one containing two fresh eggs May 4; and at Bitter Spring in 

 the Muddy Mountains, another containing two fresh eggs, May 5. Mr. 

 Nelson saw one in Vegas Wash, Nevada, March 10 ; and Mr. Stephens 

 reported it from the Grapevine Mountains and Oasis Valley from the 

 middle to the latter part of the month. Dr. Merriam found it common 

 among the junipers on the eastern side of the Beaverdam Mountains, 

 Utah, May 11. 



In the Argus Bange, California, the species was very common at 

 Maturango Spring, and in Shepherd Canon, where several nests were 

 found in the low bushes along the edges of the canon. Those contain- 

 ing two fresh eggs each were taken April 27, April 28, and May 7, 

 and one containing full-fledged young, April 27. At Coso the species 

 was very abundant and several of its nests were found. Various kinds 

 of plants were used as nesting sites, though the branching cactus 

 (Opuntia echinocarpaj was most commonly chosen. Usually the struc- 

 ture was placed on the top of a lower branch, a foot or so from the 

 ground, and under an overhanging mass of thick spiny branches, which 

 formed a protection for the parent bird from the sun and weather, as 

 well as its enemies. At Coso one of these hummers was seen on a bright 

 moonlight evening hovering about a bunch of flowers, and was heard 

 again later in the same night. During our last trip to Death Valley 

 Mr. Bailey saw one at Furnace Creek June 19, and the species was 

 abundant all through the Panamint Mountains. Just at daylight on 

 the morning of June 25, before the shadow had risen out of Wild Bose 

 Canon, a Costa's hummingbird came and hovered within a foot of our 

 camp fire, probably mistaking it from the distance for a bunch of bright 

 flowers. It was observed on several occasions that any bright-colored 

 object placed in a conspicuous position attracted this bird. In Owens 

 Valley this hummingbird was more or less common, especially along 

 the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, where it was associated with 

 the black-chinned hummer. Several were seen on the eastern slope of 

 Walker Pass July 1, and in Beche Canon September 22-24. 



