444 LAND BIRDS 



four nests in one locality, one was two and a half feet 

 from the ground in a manzanita bush, one four feet in 

 a very exposed crotch of an aspen sapling at the edge of 

 a grove, one was nicely hidden about five feet up in a 

 young pine, and one was eleven feet from the ground, 

 also in a pine tree. All were commenced at about the 

 same time, and the first egg was laid in two of them the 

 same day. In one of the others incubation had begun 

 on the day on which the second egg was laid in the 

 other two. The higher nest was watched less closely, 

 but the brood of two nestlings were seen on the edge of 

 the nest at the same time that those in the lower nest 

 had made up their minds to fly ; so there was not more 

 than three or four days' difference in the ages of the four 

 broods. The nests were all within a radius of a quarter 

 of a mile or less, and were similar in material and con- 

 struction; but those in the pines were almost an inch 

 shallower than those in the bushes. 



During incubation, which lasted thirteen or fourteen 

 days in two cases, the male was frequently found on the 

 nest, not merely guarding but brooding. When not thus 

 occupied, he flitted restlessly through the bushes, bring- 

 ing insects to his mate, not spending one moment in 

 idleness except to take a sunbath, and his cheery twitter 

 could be heard all day above the music of his more am- 

 bitious neighbors. As soon as the young Flycatchers 

 were out of the shell, he redoubled his efforts and seemed 

 to do much more than half the feeding. For the first 

 few days this was by regurgitation, but later fresh food 

 was given to them. Small wonder that with four such 



