Some Nesting Habits of the Oregon Junco 



2IS 



day, the feathering was well along, and a tiny little tail, about three-quarters 

 of an inch long, stuck up against the back of the nest. As they caught sight 

 of me, they gave a little start, settled more closely into the nest, and 'froze' as 

 usual. This was the only motion I ever saw them make. On the eighth day, 

 a heavy rain fell; but the nest and its occupants remained perfectly dry; so 

 well had the site been chosen. On the morning of the ninth day, when all 

 nature was drenched and shivering, I found an empty nest. But, as the old 

 birds were seen to drop with food into the tangled grass of the hillside, I 

 knew that the young birds were safe so far. It seemed a pity, however, that 

 they should have to begin their struggle for existence in such inclement weather. 

 Later in the day, the parents were carrying grain to a brush-pile more than 200 

 feet from the nest, so one at least of the babies reached shelter in safety. This 

 was the first time they were seen to feed anything but animal food. For two 

 or three days the old birds carried grain from the lunch-counter, and then 

 were seen no more. 



