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THE CONDOR 
Vol. XV 
cei'ned, they were hung against a screen after being removed from their natural 
sites for this purpose. 
The two outer nests were on the inside and just under the rafters of a wagon 
shed, the lower part of the north side of which was open, used to protect farm 
wagons and implements from the deteriorating effects of the weather. The pulley 
on the left of the picture was used to haul up the successful results of the num- 
erous deer hunts that took place on our ranch, the nest having been built upon it 
before the opening of the deer hunting season in that year (1911). In this case 
the nest was finished and a brood successfully reared before the pulley was put 
to use. 
The rope sling on the right had been used to sling some tackle in order to 
lift up a heavy piece of farm machinery at some time and left there after the 
Fig. 59. Extraordinary Nesting Sites of the Aeeen Hummingbird at 
Maieeiard, Marin County, Caeifornia 
tackle was removed. The bird which discovered this site evidently thought it a 
fine safe place in which to rear a brood, and in this the bird was right, as it was not 
disturbed. This nest was built in 19x2, and as it was only a few feet from the one 
on the pulley of the year before, it is very likely the same bird that constructed it. 
While this shed had been a favorite nesting place for Western Flycatchers it 
seemed altogether too dark to have been selected liy hummingbirds, which gen- 
erally build in more or less open places. 
The nest in the center was in a carriage house but a few steps away from 
this wagon shed, and was built on a hook, made from an iron rod, suspended 
from a wooden bar and about five f(;et from the ground, which with several 
adjacent, was used for hanging up harness in the process of cleaning. This nest 
was discovered in an unfinished state by the stableman when he went to clean 
some harness. Fie reported his discovery and was admonished to use temporarily 
