Page:Condor21(1).djvu/20

Jan., 1919 THE SOLITAIRES O? SHASTA 19 a sunny hillside. The nest is a very slimsy affair composed entirely of needles of the white-bark pine, with a front porch, or skirting, of pine and fir twigs. The needles have no coherence, and merely line thickly a hollow made in the soil under the full protection of a rock, and behind a partial screen of dwarf manza- nita (Arctostaphylos nevade.nsis). Hollow of nest 4 inches across by 2 deep. Sldrt, which was saved and wrapped separately, about 4 inches wide. Female only flitted back and forth restlessly and uncomplainingly, alighting for the most part on one and another of the tiny fir saplings. Eggs about half inca- bated. V150/3-16 Townse.nd Solitaire; alt. 7500; July 19, 1916: Bert had made the lacation six days ago, Thursday, July 13, but the nest at that time had no lining, Fig. 4. TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE O-? NEST AT BASE OF SHASTA FIR. and he was skeptical of results in the time allowed. The nest was a straight find on his part, on the basis of birds seen in the neighborhood and manifestation of desire for mating on the part of the female. Nest under rock on sloping hillside in deep woods. Shasta firs up to five feet in diameter in immediate neighbor- hood and snow all around, the nearest bank fifteen feet away. As we approached, this evening at six, the bird was sitting tightly, so we suppose the set to be complete. Certainly this is quick work from a nest without a vestige of grass six days ago! Nest in triangular, receding cranny, ?Sth earth floor ten inches deep under cover, six inches wide at middle of nest. Nest proper 3?/? inches wide; 1? deep. Twigs covered with blackbeard moss for skirt, some