DUSKY, GRAY, AND SLATE-COLORED 359 



was snugly woven in a low bush at San Diego. At first 

 view it was difficult not to believe it the nest of the 

 American redstart of the Eastern States, but closer exam- 

 ination revealed a wideness at the base and ornamentation 

 of tiny curled sage-leaves and bits of lichen bound on 

 with spider webs. It contained, May 10, four nestlings 

 so nearly ready to fly that 

 an attempt to investigate 

 resulted in the sudden de- 

 parture of the four in dif- 

 ferent directions. Although 

 the flight of each was 

 short, quick, and flutter- 

 ing, every one of them 

 succeeded in getting out 

 of sight among the thick 

 green, and search re- 

 vealed but one of the 

 four. He was a bewitching 

 little gray ball of feathers, 

 with just a promise of the 753. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. 

 tail that should give him 

 his name. During the hour 

 that we were able to watch him, he was fed seven times 

 by the male, the food brought being small flies and green 

 worms. The female was evidently with the rest of the 

 brood, for she did not appear. The male seemed to have 

 no fear of us, and came each time with a little challeng- 

 ing note as if he were tempted to drive us away. A mock- 

 ingbird, who came near by to drink, was fiercely attacked 

 and driven away by the plucky mite, single-handed. 



" He was a bffwitching little gray ball of 

 feathers." 



