422 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



it is seldom seen. It frequents the shrubbery of out-of-the-way 

 ravines and solitary canons, often where there is no water. The nest 

 is built in low bushes from two to four feet above the ground, is cup- 

 shape in form, with thick walls, and compactly niade of bark-strips, 

 grasses, fibrous roots, lined with cattle hair. The cavity measures 

 about three inches in width and three-fourths deep. The breeding- 

 season begins in May, and two broods are usually reared in a season. 

 From three to five eggs are laid, four being the usual complement;" 

 they are of a plain pale blue, a shade darker than those of the Black* 

 throated Bunting or Dickcissel, Spiza americana. 



Eight eggs of this species, collected by Mr. R. B. Herron in San 

 Gorgonia Pass give the following respective measurements : .68 x .54, 

 .66 X .54, .69 X .58, .77 X .56, .75 X .55, .76 X .56, .75 X.55. The average- 

 size is .73 X .56. Mr. Emerson informs me that the birds sit very close 

 on the nest, and when flushed immediately set up a hissing or cricket- 

 like sound. 



The Pallid Wren-Tit, Chamisa fasctata henshawi Ridgw. is a paler 



form, inhabiting the interior regions of California. 



« 



743. Psaltrlparus minimus (Towns.) [47, /ar^.] 



Bnsh-Xit. 



Hab. Northwest coast, from Northern California to Washington Territory. 



This is a darker-colored species than the California Bush-Tit. It 

 is a common resident of Oregon and northward into Washington Ter- 

 ritory. Breeds preferredly in thickets of ash and willow, building a 

 beautiful pensile nest like that represented in our illustration of P. m. 

 califormcus. Mr. Norris has a set of seven eggs of this species which 

 was taken near Salem, Oregon. The nest was made of moss and hair 

 and was situated in a sapling, fourteen feet from the ground. The 

 eggs are pure white, unmarked, and measure .60 x .41, .59 x .41, .59 x 

 .41, .59 x .41, .59 X .40, .57 X .41, .58 X .40. 



743a. Psaltrlparus minimus californicus Rrocw. [4'], part.] 



CaUfornia Bnsh-Tit. 



Hab. California, except northern coast district. 



This lighter colored Bush-Tit is a common bird in California.: It 

 frequents bushes and low shrubbery, and very actively hops among the 

 branches, hanging frojn them in the manner of other Titmice. The 

 beautiful and bulky purse-shaped nest built by this species seems out 

 of all proportions to the diminutive size of the bird. The one shown 

 in our illustration is drawn from a typical specimen collected near 

 Santa Paula, California, by Dr. S. P. Guiberson, April 11, 1885. It was 

 suspended from a small, forked twig, eight feet from the ground. It 



