422 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



it is seldom seen. It frequents the shrubbery of out-of-the-way 

 ravines and solitary canons, often where there is no water. The nest 

 is built in low bushes from two to four feet above the ground, is cup- 

 shape in form, with thick walls, and compactly made of bark-strips, 

 grasses, fibrous roots, lined with cattle hair. The cavity measures 

 about three inches in width and three-fourths deep. The breeding 

 season begins in May, and two broods are usually reared in a season. 

 From three to five eggs are laid, four being the usual complement; 

 they are of a plain pale blue, a shade darker than those o> the Black- 

 throated Bunting or Dickcissel, Spiza americana. 



Bight eggs of this species, collected by Mr. R. B. Herron in San 

 Gorgonia Pass give the following respective measurements : .68 x .54, 

 .66 x .54, .69 x .58, .77 x .56, .75 x .55, .76 x .56, .75 x.55. The average 

 size is .73 x .56. Mr. Emerson informs me that the birds sit very close 

 on the nest, and when flushed immediately set up a hissing or cricket- 

 like sound. 



The Pallid Wren-Tit, Champa fas data henshawi Ridgw. is a paler 

 form, inhabiting the interior regions of California. 



743. Psaltriparus minimus (TOWNS.) [47 



Bush-Tit. 



Hab. Northwest coast, from Northern California to Washington Territory. 



This is a darker-colored species than the California Bush-Tit. It 

 is a common resident of Oregon and northward into Washington Ter- 

 ritory. Breeds preferredly in thickets of ash and willow, building a 

 beautiful pensile nest like that represented in our illustration of P. m. 

 calif ormcus . Mr. Norris has a set of seven eggs of this species which 

 was taken near Salem, Oregon. The nest was made of moss and hair 

 and was situated in a sapling, fourteen feet from the ground. The 

 eggs are pure white, unmarked, and measure .60 x .41, .59 x .41, .59 x 

 .41, .59 x .41, .59 x .40, .57 x .41, .58 x .40. 



7430. Psaltriparus minimus californicus RIDGW. [ 



California Bush-Tit. 



Hab. California, except northern coast district. 



This lighter colored Bush-Tit is a common bird in California. It 

 frequents bushes and low shrubbery, and very actively hops among the 

 branches, hanging from them in the manner of other Titmice. The 

 beautiful and bulky purse-shaped nest built by this species seems out 

 of all proportions to the diminutive size of the bird. The one shown 

 in our illustration is drawn from a typical specimen collected near 

 Santa Paula, California, by Dr. S. P. Guiberson, April n, 1885. It was 

 suspended from a small, forked twig, eight feet from the ground. It 



