268 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 24 



timber destroyed. As we saw the place there was very little under- 

 brush of any sort, a great many dead trees, mostly pines with some 

 poplars, and a scattering growth of live trees that had escaped de- 

 struction. The conifers were the lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and 

 were all small trees. 



On June 19 we first saw evidence of nesting activities, though, as we 

 afterward learned, the birds must have been busy for some time. On 

 this occasion a pair of birds flew past, each with nest material in its 

 bill, and disappeared in a clump of little pines a short distance away. 

 A short search discovered the nest, just well started, in one of the 

 pines, some six feet from the ground, and quite conspicuous to the 

 view. A second nest was found a short distance away at a point where 

 there had been an Indian wickiup, occupied by a solitary old witch- 

 doctor. Several days before, this habitation had been destroyed by 

 fire, and some of the surrounding trees, including the one with- the 

 nest, somewhat scorched. Apparently the fire, smoke, and noise had 

 been too much for the parent waxwings, and they deserted the nest, 

 which contained five newly hatched young. The young were pretty 

 well dried up when found. 



On June 22 the third nest was discovered. Two birds were seen 

 in flight toward a pine a hundred yards or so distant. One, the male 

 presumably, lit in the top of the tree, the other disappeared in the 

 foliage below. Almost instantly the male flew high in the air, joined 

 two others that were passing by, and all three went off together toward 

 the slopes where we had previously found so many of the birds feeding. 

 An inspection of the pine disclosed the waxwing's nest. The tree was 

 only about twenty-five feet high, with straggly branches and little 

 foliage. The nest rested upon limbs and against the trunk, about 

 fifteen feet from the ground. It contained six eggs, almost ready to 

 hatch. 



During the next few days several other nests were found. A record 

 was kept of each one, though they did not all yield sets of eggs. Fol- 

 lowing are the- particulars of all the nests discovered : 



No. 1 (Mus. Vert. Zool., no. 1819). Found June 19, nest just be- 

 gun; June 21, nest completed; June 22, contained one egg; June 24, 

 3 eggs ; June 25, 4 eggs ; June 26, five eggs, set taken. Nest in lodge- 

 pole pine (tree about twelve feet high), six feet from the ground, rest- 

 ing on two small branches and against trunk. Greatest outside diam- 

 eter about 230 mm. ; inside diameter, 77 ; outside depth of main nest 

 structure, 90; depth of nest cavity, 51. Material used: dead twigs 



