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 180 THE CONDOR VoL XIV neck. After gentle urging the bird was induced to leave, disclosing in a frail rootlet nest'a single dark maculate egg with a rich blue ground--the imparting o'f which information brought prolonged cheqt:s from below. The find was made at exactly 1:15 e. . On account of being an incomplete clutch it was deemed advisable that I hastily descend, that a conference might be held. As we retired from the spot we were glad to see the bird shortly after come back to the nest. Littlejohn soon dissected the bird shot which, although having the yellow plum- age of the female, proved to be an adult male. That a bird in this plumage vas an adult in full song, and breeding, was proved. I believe this will be found to apply to the whole genus as well, that birds in this yellow phase of plumage are not necessarily immature as has been suspected. It was now apparent, and to our great disappointment, that as we had unfortunately shot the male parent, the chances of obtaining a complete set of eggs were rather remote. Littlejohh felt sure, however, that the bird would soon lay one or more eggs at least, from the fact that she was sitting so close on the "single." It was for this reason we decided to return to the nest again a few hours later when, if the nest still contained but the single egg, we intended sub- stituting one of the Western Robin marked with pencil spots in imitation of the Pine Grosbeak's. We determined on this course as we felt there was a great possibility now of the bird deserting and the egg being destroyed by the bird herself or other agencies. On our return to the nest at half past three the bird was setting, but when flushed only the single egg was in the nest. This was taken and the substitution made, as previously planned. As before, the bird returned to the nest shortly after we left. Some distance avay th collecting case was opened and the egg, a very richly marked specimen, was shown to the expectant eyes of Heinemann and' Littlejohn. The following morning we made an early visit to the nest again, but although the bird was still sitting, only the substituted egg was in the nest. The afternoon was spent in new territory southeast of Forni's. Here 1 came, at 7250 feet altitude, upon a male Pine Grosbeak in a low fir which wo watched very closely, and when it flew avay every tree in the neighborhood was inspected narrowly but without result. Returning I ran across a pair of birds near the lake shown in the picture (see fig. 7z[). After following them for some iime over a rough country interspersed with snow-drifts, bog, boulders and snow-streams we found ourselves on a ridge near camp and our Pine Grosbeaks nowhere in sight. On June 17 another early morning trip was taken to the original Gros- beak's nest. Approaching I noticed the bird absent but, to my great satisfaction, on climbing the tree I found a second egg had been laid which as before was replaced with one of the Robin. Both eggs in the nest were cold. Returning to camp we were joined by Heinemann, and the ascent was made of Pyramid Peak, Littlejohn desiring to secure a specimen or so of the Leucos- 'ticte, Heinemann some photographic views, and I to study the topography of certain sections in the region, the summit of Pyramid affording an unequaled opportunity in this respect. On the trip, at 9250 feet, a nest of the Sierra Junco, remarkable for its elevation, was found with four eggs. In all, but half a dozen Leucostictes were seen and none secured. During the day we ranged between 7500 and 10,020 feet elevation, but no Pine Grosbeaks were encountered. The following day (June 18) Littlejohn and I returned a second time to