WD BENDIRE 0x the Nest and Eggs of Clarke's Nutcracker. [July 
the overthrow of the tree itself could possibly dislodge it. I dis- 
covered the female on the nest while on the upper side of the hill, 
above the nest level. Stepping up within easy reach, the bird 
seemed to tremble with fear, and slightly snapped her bill, plead- 
ing forbearance rather than defiance. Tipping her tail with my 
hand, she gracefully and noiselessly glided over the edge of the 
nest, and with closed wings swooped down the mountain side for 
twenty-five yards or so; then arresting her downward course, with 
open wings at a right angle, described the peculiar undulating 
flight of a Flicker (Colaftes) for about fifty yards, and alighted 
upon a tree in the neighborhood. After noting this, and viewing 
for a moment two beautiful eggs in a snug, compact nest, I 
hastily withdrew. The second day after, I found one addition, 
making three eggs in all, which seems to be the full complement 
for the species. I waited, however, four days later before taking 
possession. Each subsequent time I disturbed the female from 
the nest, she repeating the exact manceuvres she did at first. While 
I was taking the eggs from the nest she watched me from a tree 
about fifty yards distant, and for the first time gave the alarm as I 
had the second egg in my hand. After securing the eggs, I 
moved away a short distance to note proceedings on the part of 
the birds. The male was flying about some two hundred yards 
distant. In five or six minutes after I left the nest site the female, 
with a single stop for half a minute at the foot of the tree, again 
covered the nest. After watching her a short time, I again ap- 
proached her, and when within about ten feet of her, she silently 
flew off, and protracted her flight in the direction the male was 
last seen to head. I left the place almost frozen, returning the 
next day to secure the nest complete in position. 
‘« The nest proper is placed on a platform of dry twigs, mostly 
those of the western juniper (Jaunu¢perus occidentalis) ; these aver- 
age about three sixteenths of an inch in thickness, and vary from 
eight inches to a foot in length. The twigs, which also help to 
form the sides of the nest, are deftly wattled together amongst 
themselves, as well as with some of the smaller lateral branches 
of the pine limb on which the nest is securely saddled, and are 
further held together and strengthened with the help of coarse 
strips of the inner bark of the juniper mixed amongst the twigs 
and admirably suitable for the purpose. The inner nest is a mass 
of the latter material, only much finer, the bark having been well 
