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Jan., x9o5 I THE CONDOR ?7 a bunch of dead grass and composed of the same material and a few hairs. Both parents approached me closely while at the nest. The disparity between the abundance of the thick-billed sparrow (Passerella iliaca megarhyncha) in the Big Trees region and the number of nests that one can note in a week's observation is very striking. One nest only was found, this be- ing at Gardner, elevation 48oo feet on June 8. It was placed in a small cedar two feet above the ground and contained three eggs in which the incubation was al- most completed. The nest materials used were stems, dry grass, and fine inner bark. The sitting bird was very tame and all but allowed me to touch her with my hand. The fact that the male kept close to the nest and sang lustily most o[ the time makes it all the more remarkable that the breeding habits of this species have been comparatively so little studied. We were compelled to leave Gradher before the eggs were hatched. ( To be cvncluded.) We take pleasure in being able to publish the portrait of Mr. William Dutcher, chairman of the A. O. U. Committee on the Protection of North American Birds, and chairman of the National Committee of Audubon Societies. For a number of years Mr. Dutcher has been untiring and effective in his efforts to gain better pro- tection for North American birds. His success, in the face of innumerable diffi- culties, is well known to all ornithologists and bird lovers. Mr. Dutcher's earlier work was especially concerned with the birds of Long Island, N. . With this issue of TIe?. CONX)OR the series of portraits of American ornitholog- ists will be discontinued. In the editorial column will be found an announcement of interest.