290 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



into a charming little hut; and so situated that 

 many of the outer mosses continue to flourish as 

 if they had not been plucked. A few fine, silky- 

 stemmed grasses are occasionally found interwoven 

 with the mosses, but, with the exception of a thin 

 layer lining the floor, their presence seems acci 

 dental, as they are of a species found growing with 

 the mosses and are probably plucked with them. 

 The site chosen for this curious mansion is usually 

 some little rock-shelf within reach of the lighter 

 particles of the spray of a waterfall, so that its 

 walls are kept green and growing, at least during 

 the time of high water. 



No harsh lines are presented by any portion of 

 the nest as seen in place, but when removed from 

 its shelf, the back and bottom, and sometimes a 

 portion of the top, is found quite sharply angular, 

 because it is made to conform to the surface of the 

 rock upon which and against which it is built, the 

 little architect always taking advantage of slight 

 crevices and protuberances that may chance to 

 offer, to render his structure stable by means of a 

 kind of gripping and dovetailing. 



In choosing a building-spot, concealment does 

 not seem to be taken into consideration ; yet not 

 withstanding the nest is large and guilelessly ex 

 posed to view, it is far from being easily detected, 

 chiefly because it swells forward like any other 

 bulging moss-cushion growing naturally in such 

 situations. This is more especially the case where 

 the nest is kept fresh by being well sprinkled. 

 Sometimes these romantic little huts have their 

 beauty enhanced by rock-ferns and grasses that 



