ORNITnOLOGICAL CLUB. 37 



TWO UNDESCRIBED NESTS OF CALIFORNIA BIRDS. 



BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. 



The following nests, previously unknown to science, were collected 

 for me by Mr. Charles A. Allen, of Nicasio, Marin County, Califor- 

 nia : — 



1. Californian Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus var. californicus, 

 Baird). Two nests of this variety of the Purjjle Finch taken at Nicasio, 

 Marin County, California, are before me. The first, with a set of five 

 eggs, was collected May 10, 1876. It is a somewhat smaller structure 

 than the nest of the Eastern bird, and is much more closely compacted. 

 It measures externally 5.75 inches in diameter, by 2.75 in dejith. Inter- 

 nally 2.00 inches in diameter by 1.50 in depth. The outer framework is 

 composed of rather fine weed-stalks and coarse grasses firmly interwoven, 

 while the inner nest is fitted smoothly and warmly with a peculiar fibrous 

 hemp-like material of a rich bay color. This nest was found in a garden 

 in Nicasio. It was placed in the fork of two limbs at the height of about 

 eight feet above the ground. The eggs difi'er very materially from those of 

 Carpodacus purpureus var. purpureus, and much more closely resemble eggs 

 of the House Finch (C. frontalis). Their ground-color is white with a 

 scarcely perceptible shade of bluish, about as much, in fact, as obtains in 

 average eggs of the Indigo Bird {Gyanospiza cyanea). A very few lines 

 and dots of black or dark brown about the larger ends constitute the only 

 markings. They are in shape a blimted oval, and measure .73 of an inch 

 in length by .55 in breadth. The other nest contained young, and as it 

 was not secured until after they had left it, is in rather poor condition. 

 It, however, agrees very closely with the one just described, and is lined 

 with the same peculiar material. The parent bird — a male — sent with 

 these nests is quite typical of the variety which it represents. 



2. Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Peucwa ruficeps, Baird). — A nest of this 

 species collected by Mr. Allen on Black Mountain, near Nicasio, July 10, 

 1875, presents the following features : It is outwardly composed of 

 coarse grass and weed-stalks, and lined somewhat scantily with horse-hair. 

 It is verj' loosely put together, and the original shape is so nearly de- 

 stroyed that measurements are almost impracticable. An approximation 

 would, however, be nearly as follows : External diameter, 4 inches ; inter- 

 nal, 2.25 inches. External depth, 2 inches ; internal, 1.25 inches. It 

 contained three pure white eggs, which measure .89 of an inch in length 

 by .65 in breadth. The locality was an open heathy tract on the moun- 

 tain-side, and the nest was placed on the ground under a bush. Mr. 



