The Dawson Leuco 



hair. The nests are, naturally, of 

 the sturdiest construction, with 

 walls from one to three inches 

 thickness, with hollows 

 deeply cupped. By rea- 

 son, therefore, of their 

 substantial character, as 

 well as their protected 

 situation, old Leucos' 

 nests will reward patient 

 search in almost any 

 part of our higher peaks. 

 Eggs of the Leuco are of 

 the purest white, un- 

 marked. Their shape is 

 ovate, or elongate ovate, 

 with an unusually sharp 

 decrease in size toward the 

 little end. This shape is said 

 to be characteristic, also, of the 

 genus Montijringilla of the Old 

 World; and the oological evi- 

 dence goes to show that the two 

 genera, Leucosticte and Monti- 

 jringilla, have a common origin. 

 The pace of the Leuco day quickens when these white ovals part and 

 naked babies, to the number of four or five, are born into this world of 

 snow-glare and hunger. The parents, however, have capacious throats, or 

 crops, and to obviate the handicap of a long haul, comparatively infrequent 

 visits are made to the nest. I have seen parents making trips every five 

 minutes, but ten- or fifteen-minute intervals are more usual, with half 

 an hour, or such a matter, for older birds. Food material rarely protrudes 

 from the parental beak, but the nature of the visit, whether parental or 

 conjugal, may be surely determined by the presence or absence of the 

 fcecal sac, the laden diaper, without which no self-respecting parent will 

 quit the presence of his (or her) offspring. We should hesitate to in- 

 vestigate this intimate matter, were it not for the cocky assurance and 

 frank delight with which the fond parent bears off this lowly emblem. 

 He seems to come like the bearer of good news and beams a cheerful 

 "Family well," in response to our courteous inquiry. As a matter of fact, 

 this arrangement for rigid sanitation is one of the most marvelous and 

 commendable features about a well-appointed bird home. The infantile 



Taken in Fresno County 



Photo by the Author 



NEST OF DAWSON'S LEUCOSTICTE IN SITU 



THE SET SHOWN IS 1 16/4-22 M. C. O. 



175 



