324 



North American Birds Eggs. 



742. Coast Wren-Tit. Chamxa fasciata. 



Range. — Pacific coast from southern California north to Oregon. 



These peculiar brownish gray colored birds frequent the 



tangled underbrush of ravines and mountain sides where they 



lead the life of a recluse. They nest at low elevations in the 



densest thickets, making them of twigs, strips of bark, grasses 



and feathers, compactly woven together and located in bushes 



from one to four feet from the ground. They lay from three 



[White.] to five plain, unmarked, greenish-blue eggs; size .74 x .54. 



Data.— Wrights, Cal. Nest in a tangle of vines in a deep 



ravine; composed of strips of bark, moss and grasses, lined with cattle hair; a 



bulky nest. Collector, H. N. Werner. 



742a. Pallid Wren-Tit. C. /". plum. 



Range. — Interior of California from Lower California to the Sacramento Val- 

 ley. 



This duller colored variety has the same nesting habits and similar eggs to 

 those of the Pallid Wren-tit. 



743. Bush-Tit. Psaltriparus minimus. 



Range. — Pacific coast of northern California, Oregon and Washington. 



These diminutive little birds build nests that are marvels of 

 architecture, making long purse-like structures, suspended from 

 twigs usually at low elevations from the ground. The nests are 

 made of moss, lichens, fibres, ferns and grasses and lined with 

 feathers or wool; the opening is on one side near the top, and a 

 typical nest averages 12 inches in length, by 4.5 inches in diameter fWhite.J 

 at the bottom and 8 at the top. Their eggs number from four to 

 nine and are pure white; size .54 x .40. The birds are very active and have the 

 same habits as the Chickadees, being seen often suspended, head downward, 

 fr(jm the ends of twigs, in their search for insects. 



743a. California Bush-Tit. P. »;. californicus. 



Range. — California with the exception of the northern pait. 



This sub-species, which is like the last but with a lighter brown head, has 

 the same habits, nests in the same manner and its eggs are not dis- 

 tinguishable from those of the others. 



743b, Grinda Bush-Tit. P. m. grindce. 



Range. — Southern Lower California. 



The nesting habits of this variety, which is very similar to the last, do not 

 vary in any respect; eggs indistinguishable. 



744. Lead-colored Bush-Tit Psaltriparus plumbeus. 



Range.— Rocky Mountain region from Wyoming south to Arizona. 



This species suspends its semi-pensile nests in bushes or trees, and some 

 times from the mistletoe, which grows on numerous trees in southern Arizona. 

 The nests are composed like those of the Cal. Bush-Tit and range from 6 to 10 

 inches in length. The eggs are white, five or six in number and measure 

 .55 X .42. 



744.1. Santa Rita Bush-Tit. Psaltriparus santaritas. 



Range. — Santa Rita Mts., southern Arizona. 



In all probability the nests and eggs of this species will not vary in any 

 respect from those of the last which are very similar. 



