Very often they form colonies during the nesting season, as many as twenty nests being built in a small area. Some large fir grove is generally chosen for the colony, but a most interesting one was located on a tiny island in Puget Sound. This island has had most of its large timber cut away, and is heavily overgrown with huckleberry, blackberry, and small alders. In the center is the colony, the nests placed only a few yards apart on any vine or bush that will serve the purpose. Huckleberry bushes seem the favorites, but many nests are built in the alders and on the blackberry vines.
The nesting season is greatly protracted, for fresh eggs may be found from April till July. This makes it seem probable that each pair raises at least two broods during the spring and summer. After incubation is somewhat advanced, the female is most courageous, often permitting herself to be lifted off the nest before its contents can be examined. At such times the bird student must be on his guard, as the little mother will often resent the intrusion, and her attack is always made at the eyes.
Taken near Tacoma. Photo by W. Leon Dawson.
TREASURE TROVE FOR THE HUMMER.
COBWEBS ARE LARGELY UTILIZED IN THE BUILDING OF A HUMMINGBIRD’S NEST.
The eggs, so far as has ever been recorded, are invariably two in number. They are immaculate milky white in color; and when freshly laid the yolk makes them look like little pink moonstones, such as one finds on the beach. In shape they are elliptical, and seem large for so small a bird, measuring .50 × .33 inches.
The young are fed by regurgitation. For several days after hatching their bills are little longer than those of any other young bird; but by the time they leave the nest, their sword-like beaks are nearly as long as those of their parents.
J. H. Bowles.
No. 154.
ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD.
A. O. U. No. 434. Selasphorus alleni Hensh.
Synonym.—Green-backed Rufous Hummingbird.
Description.—Adult male: Similar to adult male of S. rufus, but upperparts shining bronzy green (duller on crown); underparts, including belly, cinnamon-rufous, changing to white on chest only; tail-feathers without notching or emargination, the two outer pairs smaller and very narrow, the outermost acicular. Adult female: Very similar to adult male of S. rufus, but with tail as in male S. alleni. Length of adult male: 3.25 (82.6); wing 1.52 (38.6); tail 1.17 (29.7); bill .63 (16). Female a little larger.
Recognition Marks.—Pygmy size; fiery gorget with green back of male unmistakable; female indistinguishable out of hand from that of S. rufus; outermost tail-feathers less than .10 wide.
Nesting.—As in preceding.
General Range.—Pacific Coast district north to southwestern British Columbia, east, southerly, to Arizona; south in winter to Lower California and Sonora.
Range in Washington.—Imperfectly made out; at least summer resident and migrant west of the Cascades; not yet reported from the East-side.
Authorities.—Lawrence, Auk, Vol. IX. Jan. 1892, p. 44. L. Ra. Kb. B. E.
Specimens.—C. E.
It is the misfortune of certain well-deserving mortals to be known to fame as the husbands or brothers or cousins of some celebrity. Allen’s Hummer is the daintier, as he is the rarer, of the summer Selasphori but we know him thus far only as a momentary vision. At each appearance we pause to assure ourselves that we really did see a Hummer with a green back and a red gorget, for otherwise, we have been duped again by one of those tiresome female Rufouses.