2o6 DENIZENS OF THE DESERT 



fully along the gravelly washes and in the 

 canon bottoms. On the Mohave Desert, where 

 the Hyptis (the correct name for the so-called 

 wild lavender) does not grow so plentifully, 

 the nests are placed in the mesquite and cat's- 

 claw bushes. There are generally two nests 

 built very close together or in the same bush. 

 This pairing of nests is easy to account for 

 when we learn that the verdins, like the canon 

 wrens, build roosting- as well as breeding-nests. 

 The larger nest is the one built and occupied 

 by the female for nesting-purposes, while the 

 smaller is built by the male and is for his sole 

 use as sleeping-quarters. After the young have 

 been reared, the female uses her nest for the 

 same purpose. If you have any doubt concern- 

 ing the occupancy of the nests at night, just 

 gently thrust your finger into the hole at the 

 end of the bird-home some evening or early 

 morning, and feel what a peck you will get 

 from the tiny bird tenant inside. 



The verdins' appreciation of economy has 

 induced them whenever possible to utilize the 

 material of old nests in the reconstruction of 

 new ones. Last winter I took down an unoccu- 



