The Pine Siskin Breeding in Iowa 145 



of 1887. A nest which ho found in i^rocess of construction on 

 May 3 was later deserted. This one was only eight or ten feet 

 from the ground. However, by ^iay 12 another nest had been 

 constructed, and coutained four eggs. This nest was also in 

 a Norway pine, but about thirty-five feet high. This writer 

 also mentions the tameness of the sitting bird. 



Ralph and Bagg * record the breeding of the Pine Siskin 

 at Remsen, N. Y., April 4-9, 1889. 



R. B. Simpson ''' records the finding of ten nests of this 

 species in the hemlock forests and in the mountains of War- 

 ren county, Pennsylvania, during the spring of 1912. These 

 nests varied in height from 10 to 30 feet from the ground. 

 The first one was found on April 14; the others on through 

 the month of April. 



One other record, which, however, is over the Canadian 

 line, is descril)ed by C. H. Morrell ^ as being found on jMarch 

 29, 1898. in Nova Scotia. This author describes the nest 

 somewhat fully, and also mentions the bird's lack of fear. 



The nest referred to in Mr. Hay ward's paper possessed the 

 following dimensions, although, it should be noted, the meas- 

 urements were taken after the nest had been abandoned and 

 was in a more or less dilapidated condition. Outside diameter, 

 90 mm. ; inside diameter, 45 nnn. ; outside depth, 50 mm. ; 

 inside depth, 10 mm. 



As Mr. Hayward says, the upper part, or superstructure, 

 was very loosely laid upon the foundation ; this, probably, 

 is not a general characteristic. 



The foundation of the nest was rather loosely constructed 

 of coarse pine twigs, which were interwoven with string and 

 some silk thread. Numerous broken bits of roots and stems 

 (including stems of the tumble weed, Salsola Jiali var. tcnui- 

 folia) were used. The superstructure was composed of bits 

 of much finer roots and stems, intermingled with a great deal 

 of some sort of wool and human hair. More might ])e said of 

 this latter component, because of its rather unique occur- 

 rence. The amount of this material was considerable. Short 



* Trans. OneUla Hist. Soc, XII. lOlJ. pp. IG-S.j. 

 ' Oologist. XXIX. p. 372. 

 •"' Auk, XVI. 1S99, p. 2.52. 



