180 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XIV 
neck. After gentle urging the bird was induced to leave, disclosing in a frail 
rootlet nest a single dark maculate egg with a rich blue ground — the imparting 
of which information brought prolonged cheers from below. The find was made 
at exactly 1 :15 p. m. On account of being an incomplete clutch it was deemed 
advisable that I hastily descend, that a conference might be held. As we retired 
from the spot we were glad to see the bird shortly after come back to the nest. 
Littlejohn soon dissected the bird shot which, although having the yellow plum- 
age of the female, proved to be an adult male. That a bird in this plumage was 
an adult in full song, and breeding, was proved. I believe this will be found to 
apply to the whole g'enus as well, that birds in this yellow phase of plumage are 
not necessarily immature as has been suspected. 
It was now apparent, and to our great disappointment, that as we had 
unfortunately shot the male parent, the chances of obtaining a complete set of 
eggs were rather remote. Littlejohn felt sure, however, that the bird would soon 
lay one or more eggs at least, from the fact that she was sitting so close on the 
'“single.” It was for this reason we decided to return to the ne.st again a few 
hours later when, if the nest still contained but the single egg, we intended sub- 
stituting one of the Western Robin marked with pencil spots in imitation of the 
Pine Grosbeak’s. We determined on this course as we felt there was a great 
possibility now of the bird deserting and the egg being destroyed by the bird 
herself or other agencies. 
On our return to the nest at half past three the bird was setting, but when 
flushed only the single egg was in the nest. This was taken and the substitution 
made, as previously planned. As before, the bird returned to the nest shortly 
after we left. Some distance away the collecting case was opened and the egg, 
a very richly marked specimen, was shown to the expectant eyes of Heinemann 
and Littlejohn. The following morning we made an early visit to the nest 
again, but although the bird was still sitting, only the substituted egg was in 
the nest. 
The afternoon was spent in new territory southeast of Forni’s. Here I 
came, at 7250 feet altitude, upon a male Pine Grosbeak in a low fir which we 
watched very closely, and when it flew away every tree in the neighborhood was 
inspected narrowly but without result. Returning I ran across a pair of birds 
near the lake shown in the picture (see fig. 74). After following them for some 
time over a rough country interspersed with snow-drifts, bog, boulders and 
snow-streams we found ourselves on a ridge near camp and our Pine Grosbeaks 
nowhere in sight. 
On June 17 another early morning trip was taken to the original Gros- 
beak’s nest. Approaching I noticed the bird absent but, to my great satisfaction, 
on climbing the tree I found a second egg had been laid which as before was 
replaced with one of the Robin. Both pggs in the nest were cold. j 
Returning to camp we were joined by Heinemann, and the ascent was made 
of Pyramid'‘Peak,TiittlejbhiTxlesiring“ to~secuTe’’a~specimbn^or "so ,of,.The Leucd's- 
ticte, Heinemann some s-photographic' views,, and -'I Tcf study*^ the topography of 
certain sections in the region, the summit of Pyramid affording an unequaled 
opportunity in this' respect. On the trip, at 9250 feet, a nest of the Sierra Junco, 
remarkable for its elevation, was found with four eggs. In all, but half a dozen 
Leucostictes were seen and none secured. During the day we ranged between 
7500 and 10,020 feet elevation, but no Pine Grosbeaks were encountered. 
The following day (June 18) Littlejohn and T returned a second time to 
