84 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XV 
jays. Two with sets of eggs were destroyed by snow. One new nest was not 
later examined. One nest having eggs in it was inspected at various times until 
the young were abont six days old, when some tragedy then occurred that left 
but a ruined home among the drooping branches of a tamarack tree. 
Seven nests of Sierra Jnnco (Junco o. thnrbcri). Two nests with sets of 
eggs were taken by myself. One of these was peculiarly located, being back ten 
inches from opening of an old gopher’s burrow, and six inches below the earth’s 
surface. The eggs were out of sight and would have escaped my notice had the 
bird not flushed at close range. The situation of the burrow was a slight ridge 
or mound surrounded at a distance of 25 to 100 feet by huge drifts of snow re- 
maining from winter storms. All new snow that fell on June 23 melted awav 
within forty-eight hours. Two nests that held eggs when discovered were later 
found to contain dead nestlings. Two nests held dented and cracked eggs after 
the snow. One nest and five young were destroyed by some mammal, probably 
the same that dug the nearby nest of Plumed Quail out of the ground. 
Sixteen nests of Thick-billed Fox Sparrow (Passcrclla i. megarhyncha) . 
Two nests and sets of eggs were taken by myself. Two nests were emptied of 
eggs by children. One with two eggs was abandoned before incubation com- 
menced. One with four eggs was destroyed by sheep feeding on foliage of bush. 
Five nests with dead nestlings were examined after the snow. Four nests were 
emptied bv jkiys. One nest containing two pipped eggs was discovered through 
the actions of a jay that had its feast interrupted. 
Two nests of Blue-fronted Jay {Cyaiiocitta s. frontalis) . Only examined 
from beneath. Both nests placed on the inside framework of a snow-shed. 
Two nests of Western Evening Grosbeak {Coccothraiistes v. montanus) . 
One contained but a single nestling a few hours old, when found July 3. On 
previous day a jay, chased by anxious grosbeaks and vociferous smaller birds, 
was seen to leave the clump of fir trees in which the grosbeaks' home was locat- 
ed, at a height of forty feet. I have no doubt but what the jay had feasted on 
the contents of this nest, and later came back and ate the remaining tidbit, for 
the nest was found to be empty on July 6. The other nest contained two dried- 
up nestlings when found by me. 
Two nests of Cassin Purple Finch {Carpodacus cassini). Tlie jays took 
eggs from both nests. 
Four nests of Green-tailed Towhee {Orcospiaa chlonira). Nest and four 
eggs taken by myself. The jays (?) emptied the other nests. 
Five nests of Western Tanager {Piranga ludoviciana) . Two nests and sets 
of eggs collected by myself. One nest examined from a distance of fifty feet 
only. The birds were not seen around this nest after the snowfall. Two nests 
were probably emptied by the jays. 
Two nests of Tree Swallows [Iridoprocnc bicolor). Young in both of them. 
Six nests of Western Warbling Vireo (Vircosylva g. szvainsoni). All six 
were destroyed, presumably by the jays. 
d'wo nests of Calaveras Warbler {I’cnnivora r. gntturalis). Both aban- 
doned before completion. 
Three nests of California Yellow Warbler [Doidroica a. brczasteri) . One 
nest and set of four eggs collected by myself. One destroyed by snow. One 
emptied by jays ( ?). This last nest held abont two table-spoons full of snow- 
water on June 25. 1 placed a corner of a pocket handerchief in the nest and 
siphoned all the water away, then reinforced the weak willow branch on which 
the ne,st was attached. My assistance was evidently appreciated by the birds, for 
