Abstract

The nests, with one exception, have been placed on horizontal limbs of a distance of from five to fifteen feet out from the trunk of the tree, and from seven to thirty feet high. On July 15, 1907, a nest containing young just hatched was found placed about seven feet up, and in, next to the body of a small, gnarly, dead spruce, with the stub of a limb and a few small twigs the only support. In all cases the nests have been composed of the sa e materials, and alike in structure. From a hasty glance they seem light and flimsy; but as a matter of fact, they are quite compact. The small under platform does not exceed much in size the nest proper, or heavy lining, and is built of the small (lead twigs of the mountain maple, willow, or pine, according to location. On top of this is placed coarse weeds and straws, into which is worked a fine, wire-like weed, of the previous year's growth, until finally the lining proper consists of this weed altogether. It is quite remarkable how dense and well conformied this stiff and brittle wire-like weed becomes. Of course at the time the nest material is gathered it is still damp, and flexible; for it is secuired from the few spots here and there that are bared of the snow on the sunny exposures. Invariably the nesting site chosen is in a lone tree on the edge of the timber, on or near the point of a mountain always having a good outlook. The earliest date of the finding of a completed nest is May 25, the latest July I. The laying of eggs is commenced fro two to ten days from the time when the nest is completed. Three seems to be the common comple ent; in one instance, only, was a nest found containing four young. The earliest date of the finding of young in the nest is July 12, then about three days old. The latest date is August 20, with young ready to fly. Upon inquiry at several of the mines which continue work throughout the entire winter, we are told that this Grosbeak is a constant resident. The elevation of these mines varies from 7,000 to 8,500 feet.

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