300 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 past i 



The female broods thera rather closely for the fii'st few days, after 

 which both parents bring food, which is imparted by regurgitation. 

 The intervals between feedings, though uTegular, average longer than 

 in those species which carry food in the bill. Emerson A. Stoner 

 (1934), m front of whose bedroom window at Benecia, Calif., a pair 

 of linnets accommodatingly raised their brood, makes these comments 

 on their family life: 



* * * Aided by a flashlight, the beams directed out through the window, I 

 found that the female invariably slept with her head under one wing. Although 

 this is what might be expected, I had never before had the opportunity of looking 

 into a bird's nest so conveniently situated to allow night investigation without 

 fear of disturbing the sitting bird. The female had become so accustomed to 

 motion and noise in the room that considerable rather vigorous tapping on window 

 failed to arouse her. 



The mother did not brood her young on the final nine nights the young were in 

 the nest. During this period it was interesting to note that the fledglings, on the 

 last six nights prior to their departure, also tucked their heads under their wings. 



Bergtold (1913) says: "The young remain about fourteen days in 

 the nest, which is kept perfectly clean by the old birds for four or five 

 days after the eggs are hatched." In southern California I have 

 found the period spent by the young in the nest to range from 14 to 

 16 days, with the latter figiu-e predominant. Evenden (1957) says 11 

 to 19 days. Howard Knight (MS.) thus describes the behavior 

 of a brood of house finches found in a nest built in the top of a 15- 

 foot blue spruce at Salt Lake City: 



"On the first day of observation the birds were not active nor did I 

 they have much muscular control. Most of the movement was of 

 the feet and legs which were being flexed and stretched almost con- 

 stantly. The toes were curled and then extended fully almost without 

 cessation, and the writer beheves this exercise serves to develop 

 adequate strength in the feet and legs for perchmg while still quite 

 young. These birds leave their nests and perch on limbs for a few. 

 days before they fly. 



"As with the young of many birds when handled, they almost always 

 voided feces when first taken from the nest. The distended appear- 

 ance of the abdomen suggests that this is a reaction to pressm-e on 

 the abdomen while being lifted from the nest. Durmg the first 3 days 

 of observation there was no fecal soilmg of the nest, so it is concluded 

 that during this tune the aduJts dropped the fecal sacs out of the nest, 

 though this was not seen. On the fourth day of observation, there' 

 was considerable soiling of the edge of the nest and voiding over tho' 

 edge. Very little goes over the edge, however, so in a few days the 

 rim of the nest is a filthy mess. The purpose of this behavior is well 

 served as the interior of the nest stays quite clean. 



