IS NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the "Ornithologist and Oologist"* for October, 1885, is from the pen of 

 Mr. Charles H. Marsh, under the title of "Notes from Silver City, New 

 Mexico:" "April 24th, while collecting Warblers, I discovered in the 

 branches of a scrub oak the nest of a Lead-colored Tit. It was composed 

 of weeds, fine grass leaves, wood and a few feathers so interwoven as to 

 form a compact, bottle-shaped structure 71^ inches in length, ii^ inches 

 in circumference at the largest and 5 >^ at the smallest part. The opening on 

 one side near the top, was about one-half an inch in diameter, and was 

 carefully concealed from observation by an overhanging flap. The interior 

 of the nest was lined with wool. The whole structure was suspended 

 from a small branch some ten feet from the round, its bottom resting on 

 a somewhat larger branch, and it was still further steadied and secured by 

 the attachment on each side near the bottom of several small twigs. The 

 nest contained three pure white eggs, measuring .55 by .35. Later in the 

 season in other localities, I found two nests some twenty-five feet from the 

 ground in juniper trees; both contained young birds." This bird is a native 

 of Mexico, and is found as far north as Arizona, and probably farther. 



50. Yellow-headed Tit — auriparus flaviceps. Pale blue, with numer- 

 ous small brown spots, chiefly near the larger end ; the usual complement 

 is four and measure .60 by .44. The nest of this bird is placed in trees; 

 it is a massive structure composed of the thorny twigs of the algarobia, in 

 which tree they usually place the nest. It is lined with finer twigs, leaves, 

 down and feathers, and the outside is covered with thorns until it becomes 

 very large, about nine inches by five and a half on the outside, with an 

 opening on one side just large enough for the bird to enter. It is also 

 called Yellow-headed Bush Titmouse and Verdin. Breeds numerously in 

 the Colorado and Mojave River Valleys. 



Hab. Valleys of the Rio Grande and Colorado; Cape St. Lucas. 



51. White-bellied Nuthatch — sitta carolinensis.. Roseate tinge, cov- 

 ered with spots of reddi.sh-brown, with a slight tinge of purple; very 

 much resembling the eggs of the Carolina Wren in color. The number 

 laid ranges from five to eight and often nine; size .80 by .60. This species 

 usually selects for its nesting place the decayed trunk of a tree. In this 

 a round perforation is constructed in which the nest is made This is 

 composed of chicken feathers, hair and a few dry leaves loosely thrown 

 together. The bird is often improperly called "Sapsucker, " a name, 

 however, more commonly applied to the Downy Woodpecker. 



Hab. United States and British Provinces, west to the Valley of the Missouri. 



bla. Slender-billed Nuthatch — sitta carolinensis aculeata. Creamy 



''■■ "Ornithologist and Ooligist," a monthly magazine devoted to the study of birds, their nests and eggs. 

 Published by Frank B. Webster, Pawtucket, R. I. 



