Mar., 1920 61 
NESTING OF THE DUSKY POOR-WILL NEAR SAUGUS, 
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 
By A. J. VAN ROSSEM and J. HOOPER BOWLES 
WITH ONE PHOTO 
T IS probable that the majority of us are acquainted with most of the Poor- 
| wills, even within their regular ranges, mainly from their weird calls that 
come to us shortly after dusk. We consider ourselves fortunate if we are 
able even occasionally to flush one of the birds, and thus to cbtain a fleeting 
glance or two as they disappear through the underbrush. Among their favor- 
ite haunts seem to be the sides of canyons where there is a heavy growth of 
wild lilac and white sage; and it was in such a locality that A. J. van Rossem 
was fortunate enough to discover the nest and eggs that are described in this 
paper. As is not infrequently the case with some of our best finds, the col- 
lector was not even thinking of birds at the time, being in hot pursuit of a rare 
butterfly instead. Dashing through the thick brush he nearly stepped upon 
the sitting bird, which flushed from her eggs almost between his feet. As was 
natural enough, the butterfly continued down the canyon unmolested, and the 
ardent entomologist, upon retracing his steps to the spot where the bird had 
made its unexpected appearance, was promptly transformed into a most en- 
thusiastic oologist. | 
No attempt whatever seemed to have been made at constructing a nest, 
the eggs lying on the bare ground among pebbles, etc., in the shade of some 
dense brush that bordered upon a small open space, as may be seen in the ac- 
companying illustration. Only one of the parent birds was in evidence and, 
after flushing from her eggs, she returned twice while van Rossem was at the 
nest. The date was April 18, 1919, at which time the incubation was only 
slightly advanced. This is much the earliest of any set that we have been able 
to find recorded, June and early July being dates for the very few previously 
taken. ; 
This set of eggs of Phalaenoptilus nuttalli californicus, two in number, was 
sent unblown to J. Hooper Bowles, of Tacoma, Washington, in whose collection 
it is at the present writing. A good supply of the materials upon which the eggs 
were laid accompanied them, for nothing shows off a set of eggs in a collection 
to better advantage than the materials upon which the bird placed them. This 
is always true from a scientific viewpoint, and usually from an artistic point 
of view as well. 
In a majority of the descriptions that are given for eggs of the various 
forms of the Poor-will, the color is stated as white, without markings, some- 
times with a pinkish tinge. However, such was by no means the ease with the 
set of eggs under discussion. Before blowing, the ground color was a strong 
salmon pink; but this, after blowing, turned to a clear, glossy, pinkish white. 
strongly suggesting eggs of the Merrill Parauque (Nyctidromus albicollis mer- 
rili), although the pink of the Poor-will eggs showed a closer approach to sal- 
mon. Around the larger ends was a rather dense wreath of lavender and dusky 
spots and dots, making the eggs look exceedingly like the marked eggs of some 
small petrel. In fact that is what the present owner thought they were at first. 
