THE VERDIN. 



DAINTY little creature 

 indeed is the Yellow-headed 

 Bush Tit, or Verdin, being 

 smaller than the (largest 

 North American Hum- 

 ming Bird, which inhabits southern 

 Arizona and southward. It is a com- 

 mon bird in suitable localities through- 

 out the arid regions of Northern 

 Mexico, the southern portions of Texas, 

 Arizona, New Mexico, and in Lower 

 California. In spite of its diminutive 

 size it builds a remarkable structure 

 for a nest large and bulky, and a 

 marvel of bird architecture. Davie 

 says it is comparatively easy to find, 

 being built near the ends of the 

 branches of some low, thorny tree or 

 shrub, and in the numerous varieties 



t 



of cacti and thorny bushes which grow 

 in the regions of its home. 



The nest is globular, flask-shaped or 

 retort shape in form, the outside being 

 one mass of thorny twigs and stems 

 interwoven, while the middle is com- 

 posed of flower-stems and the lining is 

 of feathers. The entrance is a small 

 circular opening. Mr. Atwater says 

 that the birds occupy the nests during 

 the winter months. They are gener- 

 ally found nesting in the high, dry 

 parts of the country, away from tall 

 timber, where the thorns are the 

 thickest. From three to six eggs are 

 laid, of a bluish or greenish-white or 

 pale blue, speckled, chiefly round the 

 larger end, with reddish brown. 



" The woods were made for the hunters of dreams, 



The brooks for the fishers of song. 

 To the hunters who hunt for the gunless game 



The woods and the streams belong. 

 There are thoughts that moan from the soul of the pine, 



And thoughts in the flower-bell curled, 

 And the thoughts that are blown from the scent of the fern 



Are as new and as old as the world." 



227 



