204 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES  [Proc. 41x Ser. 
the parents had its tail worn half off, apparently from passing 
in and out of the hole. They were both greatly disturbed, 
flying about me all the time. 
While on a trip above 2000 feet elevation on the west side 
of Tagus Cove Mountain, Albemarle, on March 26 and 27, 
still another nest was found. It was placed between two 
broad cactus (Opuntia) leaves about seven feet from the 
ground, and for all the world looked to be the old nest of a 
ground finch, resembling it in most ways, being domed and 
made of grass and lichen, and lined with grass. The lichen 
was on the top of the nest. To the old lining of grass were 
added a few primaries and tail feathers of the Galapagos Fly- 
catcher. It seems to be a fairly regular practice of this species 
‘to put wing and tail feathers of small birds in its nests. The 
egg, which was addled, was of the usual coloration. The 
-actions of two adult flycatchers led me to believe, in the first 
place, that it was their nest. They made some objection when 
I tore the nest down, fluttering close to my hand in mute 
protest. 
These little birds are remarkably tame and inquisitive, and, 
even on the islands occupied by man, they do not seem to 
have learned to be cautious. They were easily dispatched 
with a stick or even the barrel of one’s shot-pistol. Once or 
twice on Chatham I have had them attempt to alight on the 
barrel of my gun while I was carrying it. They will often sit 
on a branch within a foot or two of a person, until some 
quick movement of the hand will cause them to fly swiftly to 
a limb close by with crest erected in alarm. One day I saw 
one pursued by a Sturdy Ground Finch, whose nest it ap- 
proached too closely. 
At Villamil, Albemarle, in March, a specimen was obtained 
with two featherless swellings or tumors at the base of the 
rami of the lower mandible. Another individual with similar 
swellings was seen at Iguana Cove, Albemarle, a little later 
in the month. This disease also affects the feet of many of 
the species of land birds. It is probably similar to the disease 
described by Mr. Henshaw as afflicting Hawaiian birds.’ 
7 Birds of the Hawaiian Islands, pp. 20, 21. 
