WESTERN BIRDS 0'i°i« 



of willow, poplar, and clematis are felted into the inter- 

 stices of the lower portion. This pouch is lashed at the 

 rim with a hundred tiny cables to the sustaining twigs, 

 and hangs to a depth of six inches, with a mean diameter 

 of nearly three. Because of the delicate materials and 

 fine workmanship, this nest weighed less than half an 

 ounce. Another nest described was more bulky, having 

 a maximum depth of nine inches outside, a mean depth 

 of six and one-half inches inside, and a diameter of five 

 inches. 



Still another and more unusual nest of these birds was 

 procured by Mrs. E. J, Saunders, of Whittier, it being 

 blown down soon after completion. This nest was hung 

 in a poplar tree about fifteen feet from the ground and 

 was completely roofed, or hooded, over with the opening 

 on one side near the top, a most wonderful piece of 

 workmanship. It reminds me of a similar nest I once 

 saw which was built by a Baltimore Oriole, which is tne 

 eastern representative and resembles in many ways the 

 Bullock's. It is interesting to note that these individuals 

 of two so widely separated species should build similar 

 nests that are so different from the ones ordinarily built 

 by their kind. 



The song is loud and clear, ringing forth in clarion 

 notes and ending rather abruptly. It resembles Balti- 

 more's song but is not so often heard, since the bird is 

 more of a recluse. 



Henshaw, who has made a thorough investigation of 

 its food habits, says the diet is largely made up of insects 

 that infest orchards and gardens. Beetles amount to 35 

 per cent of its food, and nearly all are harmful. Many 

 of these are weevils, some of which live upon acorns and 

 other nuts. Ants and wasps amount to 15 per cent of 

 the diet. The black olive scale was found in 45 of the 

 162 stomachs examined. Caterpillars, with a few moths 

 and pupse, are the largest item of food and amount to 



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