SCOTT'S ORIOLE 241 



Bryant (1890), on the authority of A. W. Anthony, "to prefer the low- 

 hills near the coast south of San Quintin, where it nests in the thorny 

 branches of the candlewood (Fouquiera columnaris) ." 



Scott (1885) found five nests of this oriole in the locality described 

 above, in Pinal County, Ariz. All the nests were within 10 4 minutes' 

 walk of the house in which he lived, and all but one of them were in 

 yuccas (Yucca baccata), within 10 feet of a road and^about 4 feet from 

 the ground. He gives detailed descriptions of each of (them, but, as 

 they were all much alike, the following description will suffice: 



Nest of May 24. Built in a yucca, 4 feet from the ground. Sewed to the edges 

 of five dead leaves which, hanging down parallel to trunk of the plant, entirely 

 concealed the nest. Semi-pensile. Composed externally of fibers of the yucca 

 and fine grasses. Lined with soft grasses and threads of cotton-waste throughout. 

 The walls are very thin, at bottom not more than half an inch, and on the sides 

 from one-eighth to a quarter of an inch thick. The whole nest was rather closely 

 woven and very strong. Inside depth, ZYi inches. Inside diameter 4 inches. 

 The whole cup-shaped. * * * I have called this nest semi-pensile, as the edges 

 of the yucca leaves are not simply attached to the rim or top edge of the nest, 

 but are "sewed" to the sides of the structure — one blade for 3 inches, three for 4 

 inches, and the other two for more than 2% The nest is sewed to the blades or 

 leaves about 7 inches from where they join the trunk of the plant, and the blades 

 are about 22 inches long. 



He describes another nest that was not so pensile, as it rested on 

 some slanting leaves. "Inside it is lined to within half an inch of the 

 rim with small pieces of cotton batting, some cotton twine, and a little 

 very soft grass. * * * The walls on the sides are an inch, and at the 

 bottom an inch and a half thick." 



His fifth nest was built "in a sycamore tree, about 18 feet from the 

 ground. Pensile, being attached to the ends of the twigs. It is com- 

 posed externally entirely of the fibers of the dead yucca leaves, and 

 there are hanging to and built into the walls four rather small dead 

 leaves of this plant, that are partly frayed, so that the fiber is used in 

 weaving them into the structure. The interior is lined with soft fine 

 grasses, and only two or three shreds of cotton-waste appear here and 

 there in the lining." 



Frank Stephens wrote to Bendire (1895) : "In Arizona I have seen 

 its nest in the yucca, sycamore, oak, and pine trees ; one nest found in an 

 oak was not even semipensile, being supported at the sides and below 

 by the upright branches between which it was placed." 



Bendire saw some nests in the tall tree yuccas, or Joshua trees. 

 One "was placed fully 10 feet from the ground, and the only way I 

 could reach it was to stand on my horse, which I did, and secured the 

 eggs, three in number, in which incubation had commenced. The 

 nest was so securely fastened to the surrounding bayonet-shaped 

 leaves that I could not pull it away, and only succeeded in cutting my 

 hand severely in trying to do so. The nest was composed of yucca 



