554 LAND BIRDS 



pied with the first series. Incubation lasts twelve days, 

 and is, I think, attended to solely by the female, although 

 the male is frequently at the nest both to feed her and 

 to watch over — but not brood — the eggs. 



746. VERDIN. — Auriparus fiavkeps. 



Family : The Nuthatches and Tits. 



Length: 4.00-4.60. 



Adult Male : Crown bright olive ; forehead sometimes orange ; rest of 



head, neck, and breast yellow; upper parts gray, with red-brown 



patch on shoulders ; under parts whitish. 

 Adult Female : Similar to male, but coloring duller. 

 Young : Upper parts gray, tinged with brownish ; no yellow, and no 



chestnut shoulder patches ; under parts white. 

 Geographical Distribution: From Southern Texas to the Pacific, and 



from latitude 38° to Mexico and Lower California. 

 California Breeding Range : Local in the desert regions of Southeastern 



California along the Colorado River district. 

 Nest: Large, retort-shaped or globular ; composed externally of thorny 



twigs and stems interwoven ; thickly lined with weed stems and 



feathers ; a small round entrance at one side ; placed in bushes or 



low trees. 

 Eggs: 3 to 6 ; pale bluish white, speckled with red-brown. Size 0.59 



X 0.43. 



The Yellow-headed Bush-tit, or Verdin, occurs most 

 abundantly in California at the extreme southeastern 

 corner bordering on the Colorado River. He is a tiny 

 mite, not so large as the Rivoli hummingbird, which 

 lives in the same district, across the river, in Arizona. 

 But although so small a bird, the Verdin has most re- 

 markable traits, and is the most fascinating of all the 

 California birds. From his wee yellow throat he pours 

 such a flood of music that you search eagerly for the 

 singer, and can hardly credit your senses when you find 



