220 



THE CONDOR 



Vol.. X 



The following morning, our host insisting, we decided to remain another day. 

 By opening the gates of the dam Eweld produced a waterfall a quarter of a mile 

 below, which gladdened the heart of that camera fiend, Heinemann, who I think 

 took it from six positions all looking very pleasant as it fell over the water-worn 

 precipices among the moss and ferns. Ewald on joining us led the way along the 

 flume which brings the water from the other dam at the head of Big Creek. Here, 

 among those great trees, the redwood and spruce, is a region of wonderful beauty. 

 Silent and still the great green forest walls the view in every direction, while half 

 hidden by fallen logs, great boulders and the overhanging smaller trees and shrubs 

 in all their bright greenery, run the ever singing brooks. 



It was near the head of that pellucid stream, Big Creek, that I found a nest of 

 considerable rarity. I noticed a Western Winter Wren disappear beneath a huge 

 fallen redwood which lay across the stream and on examination found what was 



CABINS AT BOYEA CRKEK DAM, SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS 



rather unusual, three nests! Two were of previous seasons, one holding an infertile 

 egg. The third nest was but newly built. All were made of twigs, leaves and 

 lined with moss and feathers, and placed among the bark-folds of the redwood 

 which were particularly deep on this tree. If the nest was hard to find it was still 

 more difficult to photograph, situated as it was, directly over and not far 

 above the water. But Oluf's determined spirit rises when he finds a rebellious 

 subject and after some considerable maneuvering the telling of which would reveal 

 several state secrets, he snapped the bulb with the result shown herewith. 



The trail, for this is almost a roadless country, took us away from the Big 

 Creek Dam and up the steep mountain sides towards the coast. After reaching the 

 top of the ridge we came to Gregory Heights where we found a large open clearing 

 with grain fields and orchards and tenanted by many birds of the lower zones. For 

 here, while the Black-headed Grosbeaks {Zamelodia melanoccphala capitalis) 



