The Weaver of the West 1 1 1 



alarm note was so deceiving. They were so motionless 

 and their clothing harmonized so perfectly with the shad- 

 ows of the foliage. 



Millions of destructive insects lay their eggs, live and 

 multiply in the buds and bark of trees, and it seems the 

 bush-tit's life-work to keep this horde in check. After the 

 little family left their home I never found them quiet for 

 a minute. When they took possession of a tree they took 

 it by storm. It looked as if it had suddenly grown wings 

 and every limb was alive. They turned every leaf, looked 

 into every cranny, and scratched up the moss and lichens. 

 They hung by their toes to peek into every bud; they 

 swung around the branches to pry into every crack; then, 

 In a few moments, they tilted off to the next tree to con- 

 tinue the hunt. 



THE BUSH-TIT FAMILY 



The Bush-tits are the dwarfs of the chickadee family. They are 

 four inches in length and half of this is tail. They have very short bills 

 and tiny gray bodies. The bush-tits are exclusively western, and are 

 remarkable nest builders. They live on insect eggs, scale, plant-lice, 

 caterpillars, and other injurious insects. 



Bush-tit (Psaltriparus minimus): Male and female, uniform gray in 

 color, darker above and lighter below; scarcely larger than a humming- 

 bird in size, but with a tail as long as body. Found on the Pacific Coast. 

 Nests in April and May. Nest, hanging and gourd-shaped, with small 

 hole near the top. Eggs, five to nine, and pure white. 



