88 



THE PINE SISKIN. 



As to distance from tlie £ir<uin<l, it may xary from four to^ a luindred feet. 

 The latter is the limit of in\estigation, hut there is no particular reason to 

 suppose they do not !l;o higlier. Most of the nests are placed at from eight 

 to twent}' feet u]j. 



The materials used in construction are dead fir-twigs, weed-stalks, strips 

 of cedar-hark, mosses of se\eral sorts, grass, fir, hair, ])lant downs, etc. The 

 interior may he carefully lined with fine rootlets, fur, horse-hair, feathers, 

 altho there is great \ariation hoih in material and workmanshij). Some 

 nests ajipear little lietter than those of Chi]iping Sparrr)ws ; while the best 

 cannot certainly lie distinguished ( without the eggs) from the elegant crea- 

 tions of the ."-Xuduljon 

 Warhler. One nest found 

 near Tacoma in April, 

 1906, was allowed to pass 

 for two weeks as that 

 of a Western Golden- 

 crowned Kinglet; it was 

 huilt in characteristic 

 Kinglet fashii n, chiefly of 

 moss, and was lashed 

 m i d w a y of dro(_iping 

 twigs fcMur inches to one 

 side and lielow the main 

 stem of the sustaining 

 branch, near its end. 



The eggs are three or 

 four in number, tho sets 

 of one and two are not 

 rare in some seasons, 

 TIkw are a very iiale 

 bluish green in color, with dots, blotches, streaks, and occasional marbling, 

 of rrfous and brown, chiefly about the larger end. They vary considerably 

 in size and shape, running from subspherical to a slender ovate. Measure- 

 nients of a\-erage eggs are .68 x .48 inches. 



Incubation lasts about twelve da}s, and the young are ready to fly in 

 .as man\' more. The lirciod di.'CS not remain long in a famil_\' group liut joins 

 the roving clan as soon as possible. We suspect, therefore, that the Siskin 

 raises luit one brood in a season ; and she undi lubtedly bea\'es a sigh of 

 relief when she mav again don her e\'ening gown, and rejoin "societv." 



Taken ill Tacoma. Photo by the Author 



XEST .XND liCGS OF PINE SISKIN. 



