182 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XIV 
the locality where on June 13 we had seen the first birds on the Plateau. Here, 
in passing along the edge of deep snow-drifts which lay everywhere through 
the woods, Littlejohn came upon a female Piiiicola feeding on the snow, while a 
brilliant red-plumaged male was flitting among the boughs above. In endeavor- 
ing to secure the latter the female was seen to fly to a nearby tree where she 
began hopping from branch to branch until a height of about 25 feet had been 
attained whereupon she flew to, and disappeared in, the thick foliage of a hem- 
lock bough. Advancing nearer, Littlejohn could just discern the tail of the bird 
projecting over what might be a nest and which on my climbing the tree proved 
so to be. P>eing situated eight feet out near the end of the limb, and in a thick 
patch of foliage, it could not be seen from above except by spreading the 
branches apart. On doing this and after the sitting bird had been urged off with 
a long stick the nest was seen to contain three eggs. Being unable, without 
equipment, to do anything further, we started back to camp, Littlejohn and 
Heinemann going direct while I headed over the ridge to our first nest. Here, 
although the bird was seen nearby, the nest contained no further eggs. 
On the following morning we returned, with Heinemann, to the second 
Grosbeak’s nest with carpenter tools and sufficient boards to build a rough plat- 
form up in the hemlock, which would serve in securing the eggs as well as 
photographs of the birds. After the writer had climbed the tree, and the tools 
and lumber were hauled up, a strong though rough platform was built ; and to 
show how remarkably close Pine Grosbeaks sit I may add that the bird remained 
on the nest during the entire time, nor did she flush even when the edge of the 
staging was placed and nailed but a few feet from her. 
Heinemann came up next and being somewhat unaccustomed to tree climb- 
ing was aided by a rope around the waist. His photographic apparatus was 
now brought up and preparations made to secure pictures of the bird. These 
could be taken only as the birds approached the nest ; for when sitting on the 
latter, she was almost invisible. Never have I seen any bird so persistently 
return to a nest as the Pine Grosbeak did ; for no matter how often she was 
driven off she continued to immediately fly back, and often so quickly that we 
had no opportunity to get her on the plate. Owing to deep shade in the forest 
we soon realized that we could scarcely hope for the best results photograph- 
ically. Considerable snow lay beneath the trees, but being in the shade and as 
we, too, were 35 feet above, its effect was not perceptible. 
When flushed the bird almost invariably flew across to one of the nearby 
firs and pausing' but a moment immediately returned. As our only opportunity 
for pictures lay in getting the bird in a certain position, and as she frequently lit 
close to a dark fir trunk or against the light it was necessary in all to flush the 
bird forty-one times. No photographer could wish for a more willing subject, 
for she promptly returned on each occasion. The bird was utterly fearless, 
coming at times very close to us and seeming rather puzzled than alarmed or 
angered by our aggressive operations. Once a Mountain Chickadee and at an- 
other time a Sierra Junco came near the nest-tree, and the female being off on 
both occasions, she joined her mate in driving them away. Another time, how- 
ever, when a Western Robin lit close to the nest the birds showed no concern 
whatever. 
The pictures shown were taken when the bird lit in a fir close by, the best 
being secured when the Grosbeak was on the extremity of a long branch in a 
rather open situation. The male only put in his appearance at intervals, and 
