430 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



only four feet below that of a Pallid Horned Owl containing two large young. 

 The Vcrdin's tiny stick-built suite was crammed full of fluffy reddish feathers 

 seized from the tiger of the air that dwelt in the master apartment above. 



Mr. Simmons (1925) describes the nest much as above and then adds 

 that "woolly and sticky fibers and weeds bind the nest together, and the 

 whole structure is well hiterwoven with cobwebs and spider webbing, 

 with some plant down and thistle down used to block up crevices" ; 

 the inside is "first lined with spider webs, forming a very thin coat 

 which covers the cup-bottom; then lined with a coat of small grass 

 leaves and bits of dead leaves; then an inner coat of plant down, thistle 

 down, spider webbing, bits of silk-like cocoons, and a number of tiny 

 soft bird feathers, on which the eggs rest." 



Mary Beal (1931), of Barstow, Calif., has seen a verdin's nest in an 

 almond tree and in a tamarisk. The pair that built the nest in the 

 ahnond tree had first built their usual nest in a mesquite in her back 

 yard, but a pair of English sparrows took possession of it. The verdins 

 started to build in a Chinese elm, but the sparrows tore the nest to 

 pieces ; and "every location the Verdin considered was made impossible 

 by the annoying tactics of the sparrows. Finally, the harassed Verdin 

 chose the branch of an almond tree in the midst of the adjoining orchard. 

 The tree was blossoming when the nest was built, the lovely fragrant 

 flowers almost concealing it. By the time the petals had fallen the 

 leaves were out, keeping the nest securely hidden from casual sight. 

 Here, in this unusual setting, the little family was reared in peace." 



M. French Gilman (1902) says that, on the Colorado desert of south- 

 ern California, "most frequently the nests are found in mesquite trees 

 and the smoke tree or Dalea spinosa, Daley's thorn tree. But any 

 spiny shrub will answer, as I have found nests in the screw-bean, cholla 

 cactus, desert willow, tree-sage, catsclaw, Eriodictyon, and last month 

 I found one in a grapevine growing vtp in a cottonwood tree. The nests 

 will average about five feet from the ground though I have found them 

 as low as 2J^ feet and as high as ten or twelve feet." 



Dr. Walter P. Taylor has sent me the following notes on nest- 

 building: 



The male seemed to be much busier than his mate; his yellow head and 

 brilliant red epaulettes were prominent. With his mouth full of nesting material 

 he took a look at me. Deciding I was quite safe he went to the nest, climbing 

 into it from the bottom, and remaining for several moments, undoubtedly ar- 

 ranging his material. He reappeared, looked me over again, then resumed his 

 search for nest material on the ground beneath a nearby catclaw. As he pro- 

 ceeded, he picked up many small twigs and dropped them again, being, apparently, 

 very uncertain as to just what kind of a stick he wanted, and very wasteful of 

 his energy. One twig in particular he handled for some time, then dropped it, 



