Bush-Tit WESTERN BIRDS 



and others; while in Washington they select willows, 

 hemlocks, and hazels. 



The nest is a pendant from eight to ten, or even more, 

 inches long which is entered by a round hole near the 

 top on one side. The outside frame is built of fibers, 

 strings, rags, soft material, and spider webs, according 

 to the proximity to mankind, and the fancy of the build- 

 ers. The inside is elaborately padded with plant down 

 and feathers which are felted into the outer wall, making 

 a solid structure which is peer among nests. 



In southern California the birds begin nesting opera- 

 tions early in the year. One February, on the nineteenth, 

 I found a pair carrying fine material to a nest which 

 proved to be a last year's one. 



It was hung in a live oak tree about fifteen feet from 

 the ground and, being decorated with oak tassels, quite 

 blended with its surroundings. Although it was in a 

 thickly settled community, where people were constantly 

 passing, few ever saw it. 



Both birds worked at this repairing, making in one 

 time when I watched them, twenty-six trips in forty- 

 five minutes, the shortest interval of coming being one- 

 half minute, the longest six minutes. Sometimes the 

 material brought was very small, and at other times their 

 mouths were stuffed with a cottony substance. I have 

 seen them tug at the ravelled end of a rope for material, 

 and one pair, that nested in a near-by yard, pulled wool 

 from a Navajo Indian rug which was airing on the line. 

 Also, from the lath house they brought bits of green 

 moss which is used by mortals to line fern baskets. 



For more than a month I watched these Tits putting 

 the finishing touches into their home and I wondered if 

 nes^-building was like /lowse-building, the outside of the 

 structure going up with a rush, and, when looking com- 

 pleted, being only well begun. As they worked uphol- 

 stering the inside, I could see the nest move and tell just 

 where they were. 



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