THE WESTERN GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. 



265 



\von(IerfuII\- compacted affair of moss, botli green and grav, interspersed with 

 li\'er\vi>rts, dried grasses, soft weed fH)ers, and cow-liair. The deep depression 

 of the nest cup scarcely mars the siihericity of tlie whole, for the edges are 

 brought well in; so much so. in fact, that a ciintaining branch overloaded with 

 foliage upon one side, once tipped half wa}- over without spilling the eggs. 

 The deep cavity is hea\'il\- lined willi C(.iw-hair and abundant feathers of 



Taken near Tacomn I'lioto by Boiilcs and Dazison. 



NEST OF WKSTERN GOLDEX-CROWNEU KI.\GLET IN FIR BRANCH. 



THIS IS THE .MOST THAT M.\Y BE SEEN" OF NEST OR CONTENTS FROM ANY ANGLE. 



grouse or domestic fowl. These feathers are placed with their soft ends pro- 

 truding, and they curl over the entrance in such fashion as almost or quite to 

 conceal the eggs. One would like to particularize at great length, for no 

 fervors of description can o\-erstate the beauties of this Kinglet palace. 



Eggs vary in number from five to nine, seven and eight being the rule. I 

 once took a nest with eleven — one too many at the least, for it had to rest on 

 top of the others. They are not much larger than Hummingbirds' and are 

 quite as fragile. Mr. Bowles consumed twenty minutes in removing the con- 

 tents of the big nest to the collecting box zvithout a break. The eggs vary in 



