88 THE PINE SISKIN. 
As to distance from the ground, it may vary from four to a hundred feet. 
The latter is the limit of investigation, but there is no particular reason to 
suppose they do not go higher. Most of the nests are placed at from eight 
to twenty feet up. 
= : : : : : 
I'he materials used in construction are dead fir-twigs, weed-stalks, strips 
of cedar-bark, mosses of several sorts, grass, fir, hair, plant downs, etc. The 
interior may be carefully lined with fine rootiets, fur, horse-hair, feathers, 
altho there is great variation both in material and workmanship. Some 
nests appear little better than those of Chipping Sparrows; while the best 
cannot certainly be distinguished (without the eggs) from the elegant crea- 
= ee : tions of the Audubon 
Warbler. One nest found 
near Tacoma in April, 
1906, was allowed to pass 
for two weeks as that 
of a Western Golden- 
crowned Kinglet; it was 
built in characteristic 
Kinglet fashion, chiefly of 
— 
moss, and was _ lashed 
midway of drooping 
twigs four inches to one 
side and below the main 
stem of the sustaining 
branch, near its end. 
The eggs are three or 
four in number, tho sets 
a 3 of one and two are not 
Taken in Tacoma. Photo by the Author. tare in some seasons. 
NEST AND EGGS OF PINE SISKIN. iRWey Relic hose: alk 
bluish green in color, with dots, blotches, streaks, and occasional marbling, 
of rufous and brown, chiefly about the larger end. They vary considerably 
in size and shape, running from subspherical to a slender ovate. Measure- 
ments of average eggs are .68 x .48 inches. 
Incubation lasts about twelve days, and the young are ready to fly in 
as many more. The brood does not remain long in a family group but joins 
the roving clan as soon as possible. We suspect, therefore, that the Siskin 
raises but one brood in a season; and she undoubtedly heaves a sigh of 
relief when she may again don her evening gown, and rejoin “society.” 
