The appearance and durability of houses are improved by a coat of paint. 

 A neutral shade of green or gray is suitable for houses mounted in trees, while 

 those on poles, being conspicuously placed, lend themselves harmoniously to the 

 landscape when painted white. 



The Black-Chinned Hummingbird 



{Archilochua Alexandri) 

 By Edward B. Clark 



Length : 3^^ inches. 



"To the ornithologist who may be so fortunate as to visit Southern Cali- 

 fornia in the spring, when Nature has put on her holiday attire, and everything 

 appears at its best, our friends, the feathered midgets, will contribute not a little 

 to the pleasure of his stay." — Benjamin T. Gault. 



The Black-chinned Hummingbird has a long and narrow range extending 

 along the Pacific coast from Southern British Columbia southward into South- 

 ern Mexico, where it passes the winter. Eastward its range extends to Western 

 Montana, Western Colorado, New Mexico, and Western Texas. In some por- 

 tions of this range it is very abundant, while in others that are apparently as well 

 suited to its habits it is rare, or never seen at all. 



This Hummingbird, which also bears the name Purple-throated and Alex- 

 andre's Hummingbird, is very similar in its habits to our eastern ruby-throat. 

 Even in its call notes and antics while wooing its mate it is almost a counterpart 

 of the eastern species. 



Next to the Anna's Hummingbird, the Black-chinned is the most conspicu- 

 ous of all the hummingbirds that frequent Southern California. At twilight it 

 is a frequent visitor to the orange groves, and later, as night approaches, it retires 

 to the mountain sides, where, with numerous individuals of its own kind and 

 other birds, it finds a resting place through the dark hours. 



Mr. B. T. Gault has related an interesting anecdote that occurred in his 

 experience with hummingbirds. He once found a nest of the Black-chinned 

 species in which there were eggs nearly ready to hatch. Wishing the nest, which 

 was an exceedingly fine one, he cut the branch only to find the eggs of no value 

 as specimens. Finally, finding a nest in which there were two fresh eggs, he took 

 them and substituted the two older ones. The female bird watched this action 

 from a nearby branch. Returning a few days later, he was surprised to find two 

 little naked worm-like bodies in the nest. Naturally satisfied and pleased over 

 the result of his experiment he says : 'The old bird seemed pleased too, as she 

 watched me from a neighboring branch, while arranging her feathers, evidently 

 wondering why I should take such a deep interest in her treasures. And well 

 she might be pleased, for incubation had been robbed of all its tediousness in this 

 case and the pair acting on this assumption undoubtedly hatched another brood, 

 but not in such haste, I venture to say." 



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