98 Brewer on the Golden- Crowned Kinglet . 
scure superficial markings of a deep buff, giving to the ground the 
effect of cream-color. This egg so closely resembles my set of the 
eggs of R. cristatus that, placed in the same tray, it is not readily 
distinguishable from them. It differs in size, shape, and markings 
from the eggs of R. calendula , which are more oval, are marked with 
brown, and resemble, in description, the eggs of R. ignicapillus. It 
will be seen that the greatest length of an egg of R. calendida * is 
.58, that of the supposed satrapa, only .52 ; the least length of ca- 
lendula .54, that of satrapa .47. The variation in breadth is also as 
.45 to .41. The average measurement of calendula is .56 X 45, 
that of satrapa .49 X .40. 
In “ North American Birds ” I ventured the remark, in reference 
to this nest, — then unknown except, as given by Air. Lord, as pensile 
and suspended from the extreme end of pine branches, — that the 
presumption is that it builds a pensile nest not unlike its European 
congener, and lays small eggs finely sprinkled with buff-colored dots 
on a white ground, in size nearly corresponding with those of our 
common Humming-Bird.” Mr. Merrill’s nest, if not pensile, is at 
least in a pensile position, and is in all respects such a nest as was 
to be anticipated from the uniform habits, so far as they are known, 
of the members of this genus. 
Both of the European species of this genus, R. C7'istatus and R. 
ignicapillus , and their Asiatic relative, R. himalayensis, are known to 
build pensile nests, though, like very nearly all pensile builders, they 
occasionally make use of other positions. It was, therefore, not 
only natural, but even unavoidable, to anticipate that our own Regidi, 
so closely allied to these in all respects, would be found to nest in 
a similar manner, and accordingly in “North American Birds” I 
ventured to say that we might “ reasonably infer that its nest (that 
of R. calendula ) is pensile like that of its European kindred.” Mr. 
Scott’s timely discovery shows that my anticipations have been 
realized. But even without this verification I should have felt fully 
justified in still maintaining the reasonable probability that both 
of our Reguli , when their history shall be more fully known, will be 
found to be pensile in their architecture. Yet the author of “ Birds 
of the Colorado Valley ” says : “ Since Dr. Brewer thought he might 
reasonably infer that the nest was pensile the discovery has been 
made that it is not so [the italics are mine], showing that care must 
be exercised in natural history inferences.” Even without the light 
* See Mr. Scott’s valuable paper, anted, p. 91. 
