CONSPICUOUSLY BLACK AND WHITE 399 



may be studied in almost any locality from Pasadena to 

 San Diego and eastward. Stragglers have been ob- 

 served as far north as San Jos^, Chico, and Marysville, 

 but their usual haunts are the warmer regions of the 

 southeastern part of the State. Here they nest in the 

 oaks and mesquites, building a loose flat structure which 

 once seen will ever afterward be easily identified. I be- 

 lieve that these birds, like the cedar waxwings, usually 

 remain mated for life, but when the sunny May days 

 come the male performs wonderful aerial gymnastics to 

 win the admiration of the demure brown female. With 

 a not unmusical prelude he springs into the air, performs 

 a somersault much like a long-tailed chat, and comes 

 tumbling back to his perch, where he alights easily and 

 gracefully, not having ceased his song for a moment. 

 ITie only notice his quiet mate takes of this is a slight 

 elevating of her crest, as a haughty lady might raise her 

 eyebrows. The male's fine crest is constantly erect, 

 cockatoo fashion, as he continues his adulation. In fact, 

 the only time I ever saw it lowered was when one of 

 these handsome birds seemed to be scolding a female, 

 whether his mate or not I do not know. He stood be- 

 fore her with crest down and head stretched out on a 

 level with his body, wings tight to his sides, uttering 

 harsh notes and swaying from side to side in anger. As 

 soon as she flew away he resumed his eating. 



One pair which nested in an oak tree near Pasadena 

 appeared suddenly in the neighborhood on the morning 

 of May 16, and a few days later were discovered at work 

 on a nest. A watch was kept from a distance with field 



