OrxNITIIOLOGICAL CLUB. 
37 
TWO UNDESCRIBED NESTS OF CALIFORNIA BIRDS. 
BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. 
The following nests, previously unknown to science, were collected 
for me by Mr. Charles A. Allen, of Nicasio, Marin County, Califor- 
nia : — 
1. Californian Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus var. calif ornicus, 
Baird). Two nests of this variety of the Purple Finch taken at Nicasio, 
Marin County, California, are before me. The first, with a set of five 
eggs, was collected May 10, 1876. It is a somewhat smaller structure 
than the nest of the Eastern bird, and is much more closely compacted. 
It measures externally 5.75 inches in diameter, by 2.75 in depth. Inter- 
nally 2.00 inches in diameter by 1.50 in depth. The outer framework is 
composed of rather fine weed-stalks and coarse grasses firmly interwoven, 
while the inner nest is fitted smoothly and warmly with a peculiar fibrous 
hemp-like material of a rich bay color. This nest was found in a garden 
in Nicasio. It was placed in the fork of two limbs at the height of about 
eight feet above the ground. The eggs differ very materially from those of 
Carpodacus purpureus var. purpureus, and much more closely resemble eggs 
of the House Finch (C. frontalis). Their ground-color is white with a 
scarcely perceptible shade of bluish, about as much, in fact, as obtains in 
average eggs of the Indigo Bird {Gyanospiza cyanea). A very few lines 
and dots of black or dark brown about the larger ends constitute the only 
markings. They are in shape a blunted oval, and measure .73 of an inch 
in length by .55 in breadth. The other nest contained young, and as it 
was not secured until after they had left it, is in rather poor condition. 
It, however, agrees very closely with the one just described, and is lined 
with the same peculiar materia,!. The parent bird — a male — seut with 
these nests is quite typical of the variety which it represents. 
2. Rufous-orowned Sparrow (Peuccea ruficeps, Baird). — A nest of this 
species collected by Mr. Allen on Black Mountain, near Nicasio, July 10, 
1875, presents the following features : It is outwardly composed of 
coarse grass and weed-stalks, and lined somewhat scantily with horse-hair. 
It is very loosely put together, and the original shape is so nearly de- 
stroyed that measurements are almost impracticable. An approximation 
would, however, be nearly as follows : External diameter, 4 inches ; inter- 
nal, 2.25 inches. External depth, 2 inches ; internal, 1.25 inches. It 
contained three pure white eggs, which measure .8.9 of an inch in length 
by .65 in breadth. The locality was an open heathy tract on the moun- 
tain-side, and the nest was placed on the ground under a bush. Mr. 
