544 LAND BIRDS 



On June 8, after quiet hiding and patient watching, 

 we saw a female of this species flj away with her beak 

 full of cobwebs which trailed nearly two inches, and 

 alight on a tall cedar not ten feet from the travelled 

 stage road ; but the tree was so difficult to climb that 

 we could not investigate it. In a moment she flew out 

 of it, empty-mouthed, and further waiting for her second 

 visit was fruitless. Meanwhile her mate had devoted 

 himself to hunting for insects under the leaves of the 

 deer brush, and seemed equally oblivious to her presence 

 and her absence. I fancied him a self-centred mite 

 because, when she alighted beside him, coaxing with 

 a pretty chirp as nestlings do, he fed her in a matter-of- 

 fact fashion and resumed his own meal. Long, careful 

 searching in this and other places failed to reveal any 

 nest, although it is certain there was one in process of 

 construction near by. Mr. Barlow found one, and, after 

 " collecting " the female, discovered there were young 

 in the cradle. These were promptly cared for by the 

 male, who fed and brooded them. 



Mr. Bowles describes the song of this bird as " zeegle- 

 zeegle-zeegle-zeek," but to me it sounded more like 

 " jiggl^'jigg'^-jiggl^-j'g-' Although not loud, it has a 

 carrying quality which at once arrests attention. The 

 call-note is a sharp " tseet." 



