Verdin WESTERN BIRDS 



probably, the eggs not hatching, they had covered them 

 up and gone to laying more. By continuing my search 

 among the feathers I found that my surmise was correct, 

 for two inches farther down so completely hidden by 

 feathers that for some time I failed to find them, lay 

 two eggs which lacked the pink tint of the unbrooded 

 ones. I also found that I was right as to this being a 

 last year's nest, for still below the old eggs, nearly at the 

 bottom of the nest, there was a layer of material having 

 particles of old egg shells, plainly showing that a brood 

 had been hatched there. 



It was marvelous, the number and size of feathers 

 that went into that nest. I could not count them with- 

 out destroying the nest, but I verily believe that there 

 were hundreds of them, varying from one-fourth of an 

 inch to four inches, or as long as the little builders 

 themselves. 



From northeastern Oregon to southern California (ex- 

 cept the coast strip) a similar bird is known as the 

 California Bush-tit (P. m. californicus). It differs from 

 the preceding in being lighter colored, the top of the 

 head being light brown, contrasting with the light gray 

 of back. The two are so much alike that the ordinary 

 observer would be troubled to tell them apart. 



To me they are all just dear little Bush-tits, and I 

 care not what their scientific name may be. 



GENUS AURIPARUS : VERDIN. 



Verdin: Auriparus flaviceps flaviceps. 



FAMILY— TITMICE. 



In the little Verdin we have a Tit which is quite 

 different from the others. Coues calls it the Gold-tit, 

 which seems most appropriate since the head of the male 



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