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214 THE CONDOR Vol. XIV and have taken one set of six fresh eggs. The last week in April is pretty sure to show complete sets with incubation begun, in the lower altitudes, and ten days later for the summits of the m6untains. These dates vary considerably xvith different seasons. May 24,-I9o9, I collected a set of five half incubated eggs from a pine stub on the summit of the main ridge, altitude 8,45 feet; May 4, x9o7, a fresh set from an oak near the summ;_t; June iI, I908 , [ photo- graphed an adult feeding young which left the nest two days later, altitude 5,800 feet: May 25, I9O9, I forrod a nest full of young large enough to fly. The nest was in a dead stub of a sycamore in the bed of a canyon, altitude 5,200 feet. Sometimes the bird sits very close and at others she flushes readily. The Fig. 83. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NUTHATCH AT ENTRANCE TO NEST, CARRYING ?'ooD ?'OR VOVNG former is usuhlly the case, and she will stay in the nest cavity while it is being chopped open. climbing up into the cavity above the opening. I have never fouml a nest in a cavity that did not extend above the entrance. One brood, only, is raised in a season. The same nesting site is some- times used year after year, though vermin in the nest frequently cause them to select a new location the next season. This Nuthatch is quite cute about drawing one's attention away from the nesting locality. May 18, x9IO, I heard a pMr "talking" to each other, and began to trail them. One soon secured some bit of food and started up the steep mountain side with me in hot pursuit. I soon lost sight of it, but discovered the mate close by with some grass or bark or something of that character in its beak. It dove into a cavity. of a small oak, and shortly reappeared ?vithont