186 ,THI? CONDOR" Vol. XXI 6. Heavily spotted and blotched in a rough wreath around the larger end, and with finer and more scattered markings over the balance of the egg. Some- times, so minute and close that the individual specks are scarcely discerni- ble, giving a peculiar dusty or "cobweb-like" effect. Field Notes.--My observations of this subspecies cover elevations from 3,500 to 11,000 feet altitude in the Sierras, and localities from Eagle Lake, Las- sen County, south to Lake Reflection near the Kings-Kern Divide. Most nests are found by flushing the sitting bird, but almost any nest can be located by patient watching. They are usually placed on the ground, sunk flush with, or beneath, the surface, and concealed by overhanging earth, rock, weeds, shrubbery, or a fallen log or limb. Also noted nesting.in holes in trees and banks, on rafters of deserted cabins, in empty tin cans or wooden boxes, and once under the eaves of an occupied store, 25 feet up; but at no time, as in the case of Junco o,'eganus pinosus, have I found a well built nest placed on the branch of a tree. Henry ? W. Carriger, however, in- forms me that at Lake Tahoe he found one nest placed on a pine limb, 5 feet up. A typical nest (no. 18) .... "' is composed outwardly of grasses, rootlets, string and pine needles, and is lined profusely with red cow-hair. This measures 4.25 inches across, the ca?qty 2.50 across by 1.38 r.. - ..? ..2 deep. Taken June 8, 1911, Bijou, Lake Tahoe, Call-
.. . fornia (elevation 6,220 feet), with four fresh
eggs. Nest placed on meadow ground, flush with the surface, beneath Fig. 37. Form SETS OF EGGS OF THE SIERRA JUNtO a burnt log. SHOWING VARIATION IN SIZE; IN THE ACCOMPANYING Another (no. 24) is made TEXT THE MEASUREMENTS OF THESE SETS ARE GIVEN. UPPER ROW, LEFT TO RIOHT, SETS 20 AND 47; LOWER of rootlets, bark strips Row, 61 AND 23. and moss, and is lined with fine grasses and wild animal hair. Measures 4.25 across; cavity 2.00 by 1.13; collected May 16, 1913; Fyffe, E1 Dorado County, California (elevation 3,700 feet). Held four eggs, incubation well started. Nest placed near an ir- rigation ditch, entirely concealed by overhanging foliage, small cedar and alder saplings, and dead leaves. A third nest (no. 2) is built of grasses, weed-stems and pine needles and lined with fine grasses and horse-hair. Size 5.00 across; cavity 3.00 by 1.50; found May 21, 1910, at Bijou, California; contained 4 fresh eggs. Nest located beneath the overhanging edge of a log on meadow ground. We have taken eggs from the beginning of May up to the middle of July, considerable variation in this respect being due to altitude and also to seasonal
