1912] Taylor: Birds and Reptiles of Northern Nevada. 385 



hunter, disappearing from view across the river. This nest 

 rested in a slight depression on some moist ground, and was 

 surrounded by marsh grasses. It was nearly spherical in shape, 

 being built entirely of straw, and having a light covering ar- 

 ranged over it in such a way that the opening was on one side. 

 It was especially well concealed and one could hardly see how 

 the parent bird got into and out of the nest, as immediately in 

 front of the opening were some dry willow branches. The open- 

 ing into the nest was 76 mm. (3 inches) in diameter, and the 

 nest cavity 127 mm. (5 inches) from front to back. Each nest 

 contained five fresh eggs. 



]\Ieadowlarks were present in small numbers on the Leonard 

 Creek flats, altitude 6000 feet, but were characterized by extreme 

 shyness, retreating hastily into sagebrush thickets when sur- 

 prised. 



A Juvenal barely able to fly was noted in Big Creek Canon 

 between the Dugout Camp and Big Creek Ranch on June 22. 



Icterus buUocki (Swainson) 

 Bullock Oriole 



Distribution. — Observed fairly commonly at lower stations, 

 for example, Winnemucca, Quinn River Crossing, Virgin Valley, 

 Little High Rock Caiion, and Leonard Creek Ranch. The high- 

 est record stations were Big Creek (6000 feet), Leonard Creek 

 (6500 feet), and Duffer Peak I\[eadow (8400 feet), while the 

 lowest was Quinn River Crossing (4100 feet). 



Habits. — Orioles w^ere by no means confined to the willows, 

 but were often seen in the sagebrush, though never at any great 

 distance from some stream. Nests were seen May 11 in the 

 poplars at Winnemucca. The males were at that time in full 

 song. Nests, but no birds, were observed at Amos. Orioles were 

 nesting in the wallows at the mouth of Wheeler Creek and prob- 

 ably at Quinn River Crossing also. 



Detailed observations of breeding habits were made at Big 

 Creek Ranch, where the orioles were, more numerous than at 

 any other locality on our itinerary. One nest, which may be 

 regarded as fairly typical, was located fifteen feet up in a willow. 



