The Cassin Purple Finch 



Taken in Mono County 

 Photo by the Author 



NEST AND EGGS OF CASSIN PURPLE FINCH IN MURRAY PINE (Pinus contorta) 



NOT IN SITU 



each, apparently, successful. The female was so thoroughly stuffed that 

 she made deglutitive efforts from time to time for as much as five minutes 

 afterwards. 



The female Cassin Finch was an ideal subject, but she was consider- 

 ably shaded by closely investing branches, insomuch that my first six 

 exposures were necessarily inadequate. But having secured "something", 

 I ventured, for my last plates, to cut away the cover entirely, and found 

 to my amazement that she would stand for it. At minimum range, 2}4 

 feet, I shot down with the Graflex (Heliar lens) upon the bird, now fully 

 exposed. Knowing that I had no more plates for the day, nor time on the 

 morrow, I started to "collect" the nest, much against my photographic 

 conscience and judgment. To my continued amazement the female 

 allowed me to cut the branch at close range, and she did not quit her eggs 

 until I had her within eight inches of my face. When with the nest 

 branch in hand I extended it to its original position, she promptly sat 

 again, and this time I hauled her in until she was within four inches of my 



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