July, 1 909 ONLY KNOWN BREEDING GROUND OE CRECISCUS COTURNICULUS 
125 
slide in. A piece of tin was arranged with suitable holes to be secured on the front 
side of the box after it was filled, thereby supporting the bottom and locking it in 
place. This coverless box with bottom withdrawn, was placed over weeds and 
nest. By carefully cutting all roots and mud along the edge, the box was caused 
to settle until the top was about level with the surface. A hole was dug at front 
of box sufficiently large to permit the bottom board being placed in the groove. 
Roots and earth were gradually cut away as the bottom was shoved into place. This 
nest was situated in an exceptionally exposed place, and the eggs could be seen 
thru the low Monanthochloe /it/oralis that grew closely around the nest. 
The eggs were warm to the touch when found. Judging from that fact, the 
setting bird had sneakt off on my approach. I surmised that an opportunity to 
NEST OF THE CAIJFORNIA LSUACIv RAIL, AS FI' APPEARS AFTER REMO VAI, 
TO THE AUTHOR'S COEEECTION 
photograph her at the nest would soon occur. Weeds were cleared away from the 
more open side that I might have an unobstructed view from my selected place of 
concealment. I decided after an unsucessful and tiresome wait of one hours dura - 
tion, to be contented with photos of the nest and eggs only. Wishing to shoot the 
parents of this first set of my own discovery, I endeavored to flush them by repeat- 
edly returning as quietly as possible. The nest was also approacht by running up 
to it from different points of the compass. Notwithstanding most of the weeds 
within a distance of forty feet had been carefulv kickt over, no birds up to this 
time were seen or heard. While packing the eggs a tuft of cotton was blown from 
my fingers; on making a quick grab, my hand was thrust into a clump of weeds 
causing one of the elusive birds to rise and fly feebly thirty or forty feet, then with 
