66 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVIII 
They always slipped quietly through the brush back of the nest, coming into 
view almost directly under it and on the ground, and then mounting to it from 
twig to twig. 
When visited at 7 :30 a. m. March 25, the nest was completed and neither 
bird was in evidence. It was a rather deep cup-shaped nest, compactly but 
lightly built, and laced, for its principal support, 21 inches from the ground, to 
the side of a perpendicular stalk of teasel coming up through the clump of bac- 
charis, a few smaller twigs serving to steady it. The materials used in its con- 
struction were weed and bark fibers and dried grass, with a thin inner lining of 
dried grass and horse hair. The following measurements were made after the 
young had left and when the nest was slightly distorted and otherwise rather 
the worse for wear: Outside, depth 2.75 inches, diameter 3 inches; inside, depth 2 
inches, diameter 2.90 inches. 
From March 25 until 
March 30 there was no change 
in conditions, and neither bird 
was seen near the nest. The 
weather turned cold and rainy 
during this interval and it is 
possible that further opera- 
tions were delayed on that ac- 
count. March 31 at 4 p. m. 
one egg was in the nest. Coin- 
cident with this the weather 
had become warm and dry. 
On April 1, the nest contained 
two eggs. One bird, assumed 
to be the female, was flushed 
from the nest; the other was 
singing nearby. 
April 2, at 4 p. m., there 
were three eggs in the nest ; 
female (?) flushed, other bird 
not seen. April 3, 5 p. m., no 
change. Parent bird flushed 
from nest. April 4 no change. 
A note was made at this time 
which perhaps suggests why 
so few wren-tits’ nests are found. The bird remains on the nest, which is well 
concealed in the leafy portion of the bush, and is only flushed when the twigs 
within three or four inches are disturbed. Then, instead of a demonstration 
against the intruder or an attempt to lure him away, she slips quietly over the 
side of the nest and is gone, taking full advantage of any cover that can be found. 
April 5, 5 p. m., parent bird sitting close on nest From this date until April 
20 incubation was carried on, one or the other of the pair being upon the nest 
practically all the time. The photographs accompanying this article were taken 
April 9, when the bird proved to be a fearless subject. April 20, when observed 
at 7 :30 a. m., all the eggs had hatched and the nest contained three young. Thus 
the length of the period of incubation (from the laying of the third egg) was 
eighteen days, or figuring the time from April 5, from which date one or the 
