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BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



[Yol. V. 



the cactus, still not altogether confined to it for nesting purposes. I 

 have discovered its nests in junco-, ebony-, and mesquite-trees. On May 

 21 I found two new but empty nests, some ten feet from the ground, 

 one on each side of an ebony standing alone, and on the same day a 

 fine nest in the lower part of ^ large mistletoe, at least sixteen feet from 

 the ground, in a mesquite-tree. Several times I examined nests in the 

 j unco, which is oftener seen in bush-form than in proportions entitling 

 it to the name of tree. It consists of a mass of green thorns, without 

 leaves, and so full of pitch that it readily burns when green and full of 

 sap. The nests in the cacti were never found lower than three feet 

 from the ground, and usually four or more. 



The nests are well described in Dr. Coues's "Birds of the Colorado 

 Yalley," p. 158, and I can add little of interest. ISTests of the previous 

 season become battered down by the rains, and frequently a new one is 

 built on the top of an old one. In none did I see twigs entering into 

 their composition ; all were composed of the long grasses abundant in 

 the vicinity, and lined with feathers, sometimes to the very mouth of the 

 retort- or bottle-shaped structure. On May 14 I took my first nest of 

 this bird, containing four addled eggs, which had been abandoned, as I 

 had watched for a week for their owners to put in an ax)pearance with- 

 out avail. On May 21 young nearly ready to fly, fresh eggs, and nests 

 not yet finished, were found in abundance in the same locality, so that 

 it is hard to tell about the particular season for breeding, or whether they 

 rear more than one brood. One nest contained five eggs, the others 

 four or less. The eggs are unmistakable in color and shape. They appear 

 rich buff without a magnifying-glass, so fine and closely laid are the 

 spots upon the white ground. They are quite slender, and more pointed 

 at one end than the other. In size they average .94 by .65; the largest 

 one taken is 1.00 by .06, and the smallest .88 by .63. 



The four young taken May 21 from one nest, and preserved in alcohol, 

 have top of head dark brown, back and quills colored like adult, but 

 darker, the white streaks and spots much fainter, under parts like 

 adult, with the black spots less conspicuous ; russet on flanks, lower 

 belly, and under tail-coverts very plain ; bill brown; feet pale. Young, 

 when first hatched, have fine, long, light brown down on the feather- 

 tracts. 



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