CASSEN'S FINCH 283 



attention are a set of eggs taken May 24, 1924, by Patterson (MS.) 

 and a set of three eggs taken May 25, 1931, near Bly, EQamath 

 County, by Braly." In northern Humboldt County, Nev., Taylor 

 (1912) states that: 



A nest was found June 26 in a Pinu^ flexilis near the head of Big Creek. The 

 tree itself was surrounded by a grove of quaking aspens. The nest was located 

 five feet from the trunk of the pine on the slender twigs of a branch thirty feet 

 above the ground. Sticks and greenish yeUow lichens had been used in its con- 

 struction. The lining consisted of shreds of bark and sheep's wool. The struc- 

 ture was rather frail and loosely built. The depth of the cavity was 30 ram. 

 (1^6 inches), its diameter 79 mm. (3% inches). When it was first noted one 

 parent was seen on the nest, but when a close examination of the site was made 

 neither bird was seen. There were five young in the nest. 



Johnstone (1949) comments as follows on the nesting of this species 

 in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia: "June 20, 1937, a 

 pair feeding young at Beckham's lake, nesting high up in a fir tree; 

 July 17, 1946, male feeding young out of nest in Cranbrook; May 7, 

 1947, a pair carrying nest material into the top of a high fir tree in 

 Cranbrook." 



Eggs. — The number of eggs laid by this species ranges from three to 

 six, with four or five comprising the usual set. They are ovate, some- 

 times tending to either elongated-ovate or short-ovate, and are slightly 

 glossy. The ground color is "pale Niagara green" or "bluish glau- 

 cous," and they are speckled and spotted with "olivaceous black," 

 "Natal brown," "bone brown," "dark olive," and less frequently with 

 "Carob brown." On many eggs the very minute spots are so dark 

 that they appear to be black, while others may have larger spots of the 

 shades of brown with undermarkings of "ecru drab." In general, the 

 spots are more numerous toward the top of the egg, and often form a 

 loose wreath around the large end. 



The measurements of 50 eggs average 20.3 by 14.7 millimeters; 

 the eggs showing the four extremes measure 23.9 by 16.3, 18.5 by 

 14.8, and 19.2 by 13.^. millimeters. 



Young. — Mrs. Wheelock (1912) says that 12 days are required for 

 incubation. It seems hkely, however, that in some instances this 

 period may extend a day or so longer. So far as known incubation 

 is solely the responsibility of the female, although both parents partici- 

 pate in feeding the young. No information is available as to the 

 length of time the young remain in the nest. 



Ray (1912a) records finding a nest containing four fully fledged 

 young on June 5, 1910, at Star Lake in the Tahoe region of CaHfornia. 

 GrinneU (1908) reports that fuU grown young were found about Bear 

 Lake on July 31, 1905, in the San Bernardino Mountains and that they 

 were common on Sugarloaf in August. Taylor (1912) referring to 

 this species in northern Humboldt County, Nev., says: "Young birds 



