196 THE CONDOR Vo i,. XI 
coloring, which I have described at some length in the article termed “A Defense of 
Oology,” to be publisht in a future Condor. 
A strange departure from the usual tree-nests were those placed on the ground. 
These were in swampy meadow-land, which, when the birds start to nest in May, 
affords practically no concealment as the grass is very short. That many of those 
birds nesting on the ground come to an untimely end I feel, is quite certain, for I 
found about a dozen of these terrestrial nests deserted; and nearby a scattered bunch 
of the dark feathers of Euphagus testified to the sudden end of one of the owners. 
Along the beach front between Bijou and Lakeside this condition was particularly 
noticeable; for five nests were found in this state. Various mammals, especially the 
smaller species, are extremely common in this region; and the sitting birds, on 
a poorly-concealed nest and 
being of conspicuous plumage, 
uo doubt fall an easy prey. 
Some years ago I mentioned 
in The Auk (vol. xx, no. 2) 
finding several nests of the 
Brewer Blackbird at Rowlands 
built iu piles out in the lake, 
one being above where the 
water was twenty feet deep. 
This year mv attention was 
called to one in a similar situ- 
ation at Bijou by Mr. Wilton 
Young. The pile in which 
the nest was placed formed a 
part of the main wharf. A 
portion of the side had been 
torn away leaving sufficient 
space for the bird to construct 
a nest. As it was some dis- 
tance from the top of the pile 
and faced lakeward it was un- 
noticed lay those who were 
continually passing thru the 
day within a foot or so of it. 
hkinemanx's method of deep-water photography Desiring to photograph the 
nest and eggs in situ when Mr. 
Oluf Heinemann arrived, I collected the set of four eggs, on June seventh, they be- 
ing then well along in incubation. The nest was a frail structure (conditions 
did not allow, nor was it necessary for it to be otherwise) of rootlets, grasses, 
weed stems, a few pine needles, and lined with horse-hair. It was placed thirteen 
inches above the water which was three feet deep. On June 19, after more pressing 
work had been done, Heinemann and I assembled with the various photographic 
paraphernalia on the beach at a time when the light came at a proper angle and 
proceeded to take the picture. Of course the usual tripod legs were far too short 
for this class of work; but these were easily lengthened by some long poles we found 
lying handy. It was likewise necessary for Heinemann to don a bathing suit in 
order to take the picture which is shown herewith. The smaller view by the 
writer shows Heinemann and his method of deep water photography. 
Sa u Fra n c/s co , Ca l ifo rn ia . 
