TFIE OREGON NATURALIST. 83 



hnd all I could attend to climhing over "I have known uf several cases where Denny 



fallen timher, rocks, etc. in the dark, often Pheasants .nnd Sooty Grouse layed in the same 



cirrying my hat in my teeth. At camp I nest and the grouse was the one that did the 



'dug up' a box and packed the eggs away, hatching. The reason they are' becoming so 



carrying them behind my saddle for ten days scarce in the valley, is undoubtedly because the 



before I had a chance to blow them, only to limber is being cut at such a rapid rate, and 



find them on the point of hatching. These they are never satisfied unless they have a 



eggs were very similar to those of the Sooty grove of fir timber for their home, nor are two 



which I have since taken in Oregon, females satfsfied to nest near each other". 



"In Oregon I have often found nests by GuY S'IRYKER. 



looking along the openings in the timber 



along trails until I found the pi'.es of drop- NESTING OF THE RED-BREASTED 



pings which indicated a setting bird, then a NUTHATCH. 



short search among the ferns under the shelter 



of logs, etc. usually revealed a nest with from March 24 while working near a piece of 

 five to nine eggs. One nest was found in an timber I heard a tapping much like a wood- 

 old hay stack, near an old unsed barn, and was pecker's and upon investigation, found it to be 

 exactly such as an old hen might make under a Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), 

 .similar conditions — .1 hole dug out of the edge After watching it for some time I 

 of the stack, .\notiie. sjt was found in a field decided tliat it wns going to nest there. I 

 of growing grain, usually however, they select found several holes bnt only one looked like it 

 a dry sunny hidside where the trees are not too was being ])repared for nesting. It was about 

 thick, and hide the nest under a bunch of gi^ feet from the ground in an old snag about 

 ferns." 12 feet high. 



Mr. Pope writes: "Ahout the middle or latter April 24 thinking from their actions that the 



part of March the Sooty Grouse begins to nest was about comi^leted I climbed up to it 



'hoot'. The nesting season extends from about but could not see anything because the nest 



April 20, in the valley until July in the foot- was so near under the hole. The hole was 



hills and mountains. The earliest date on about one inch by one one quarter inches and 



which I have known of a full set bein^ taken was about six inches above the nest. Around 



was April 18, containing five eggs. In the the hole was a coat of pitch, probably put tiiere 



v.illey fresh eggs are rare after the first of May. by the hird.= for protection. 



The latest date on which I have known of fresh As I could not see the eggs I made an 



eggs being found in the valley was May 10". opening and peeped in. p^our beautiful eggs ! 



ISJr. Swallow writes: "A number that I have As this seemed a small set I fastened up the 



examined only had 18 tail feathers, while they opening I had made and hid behind a tree to 



are credited with 20". watch the birds. What do you suppose they 



"Mr. Hadley writes: "The eggs are creamy did? As soon as they found that no damage 

 i)ufT, speckled with reddish brown. The was done they went to work carrying more 

 markings are mostly at the large end, but one pitch and daubing it around the entrance, 

 set of SIX had a wreath around the smaller end. On the 27th, I returned, and finding only 

 About 24 days are required for hatching, the four eggs I took them. They were almost 

 female domg the incubating. As soon as the fresh. They looked much like the eggs of the 

 young are hatched they leave the nest with the Chickadee — ground color white, (pink- 

 old birds. While young tliey live almost ish-white before blown) spotted uniformly with 

 entirely on insects and larv*. When older they reddish-brown. On three eggs the spots are 

 are taken by theold birds to the grain fields * * * rather la'ge; on the other they are very small. 



