Page:Condor17(2).djvu/38

100 THE 'CONDOR Vol. XV? Peculiar Nesting Site of Anthony Towhee.--On April 25, 1914, a friend called my attention to a nest placed in the topmost box of a stack of berry boxes that were stand- ing on a bench in his barn. At the time, the nest contained two partly incubated eggs of the Anthony Towhee (Pil?ilo crissalis senicula). The bird usually entered the barn through a door near the nest, but when this was closed it entered through a window fully ten feet from the nest. For some reason the nest was deserted after the eggs were about half incubated. This is the first instance where I have found this bird nesting otherwise than in a tree or bush.--WRI(;IIT M. PIERCE, Claremont, Calilornia. The House Finch as a Parasite.--Close observation of some of our commonest birds often leads to the discovery of some trait not hitherto ascribed to the species. The practice of making use of the nests of others in which to deposit their eggs is common to many of our North American birds. Among the cowbirds and cuckoos this practice Fig. 39. NEST AND EOOS OF ANTHONY BRO?VN TOW- HEE IN STACK OF BERRY-BOXES Photo by XV. M. Pierce. is so well known as to need no comment. Certain of the gallinaceous fowls, such as pheasants, partridges, quail, etc., occasionally deposit their eggs in nests of others of their own or allied species. The waterfowl are represented in this class, many species leaving their eggs to the care of other birds. Thus eggs of the Ruddy Duck, the Redhead, the Shoveller, and others, are frequently found in the nests of other ducks, and coots. Many of the Rap- tores make use of the deserted nests of crows, ravens, magpies, and others suited to their needs. The sparrow hawks, smaller owls, and numerous species of wrens, chick- adees, titmice, etc., use old woodpecker holes. But as far as I know, the Linnet, or House Finch (Car?odacus mexicanus lrontalis) is unique among the Fringillidae as a parasite. I first encountered the species under consideration as leaving its eggs to the care of a foster-parent in April, 1908. A nest of