186 Q THE CONDOR . , Vol. XXI 
Heavily spotted and blotched in a rough wreath around the larger end, and 
with finer and more scattered markings over the balance of the egg. Some- 
times, so minute and close that the individual specks are scarcely discerni- 
ble, giving a peculiar dusty or “cobweb-like” effect. 
Iield Notes— My observations of this subspecies cover elevations from 
3,900 to 11,000 feet altitude in the Sierras, and localities from Eagle Lake, Las- 
sen County, south to Lake Reflection near the Kings-Kern Divide. Most 
nests are found by flushing the sitting bird, but almost any nest can be located 
by patient watching. They are usually placed on the ground, sunk flush with, 
or beneath, the surface, and concealed by overhanging earth, rock, weeds, 
shrubbery, or a fallen log or limb. Also noted nesting in holes in trees and 
banks, on rafters of deserted cabins, in empty tin cans or wooden boxes, and 
once under the eaves of an occupied store, 25 feet up; but at no time, as in the 
ease of Junco oreganus pinosus, have I found a well built nest placed on the 
branch of a tree. Henry 
W. Carriger, however, in- 
forms me that at Lake 
Tahoe he found one nest 
placed on a pine limb, 5 
feet up. 
A typical nest (no. 18) 
is composed outwardly of 
grasses, rootlets, string 
and pine needles, and is 
lined profusely with red 
cow-hair. This measures 
4.25 inches across, the 
cavity 2.50 across by 1.38 
deep. Taken June 8, 1911, 
Bijou, Lake Tahoe, Cali- 
fornia (elevation 6,220 
feet), with four fresh 
eggs. Nest placed on 
meadow ground, flush 
with the surface, beneath 
Fig. 37. FouR SETS OF EGGS OF THE SIERRA JuNco a burnt log. 
SHOWING VARIATION IN SIZE; IN THE ACCOMPANYING Another (no. 24) is made 
TEXT THE MEASUREMENTS OF THESE SETS ARE GIVEN. : 
UPPER ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT, SETS 20 AND 47; LOWER of rootlets, bark strips 
row, 61 anv 23. and moss, and is lned 
with fine grasses and wild animal hair. Measures 4.25 across; cavity 2.00 by 
1.13; collected May 16, 1913; Fyffe, El Dorado County, California (elevation 
3,700 feet). Held four eggs, incubation well started. Nest placed near an ir- — 
rigation ditch, entirely concealed by overhanging foliage, small cedar and alder 
saplings, and dead leaves. 
A third nest (no. 2) is built of grasses, weed-stems and pine needles and — 
lined with fine grasses and horse-hair. Size 5.00 across; cavity 3.00 by 1.50; — 
found May 21, 1910, at Bijou, California; contained 4 fresh eggs. Nest located 
beneath the overhanging edge of a log on meadow ground. 
We have taken eggs from the beginning of May up to the middle of July, 
considerable variation in this respect being due to altitude and also to seasonal 
o> 
