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 THE CONDOR Volume XIV September-October, 1912 Number 5 THE DISCOVERY OF THE NEST AND EGGS OF THE CALIFORNIA PINE GROSBEAK By MILTON S. RAY WITH SEVENTEEN PHOTOS BY OLUF f. HEINEMANN AND THE AUTHOR ITH the taking of th e eggs of the Gray-crowned Rosy Finch at Pyramid Peak in June of 1910, there remained only three or four birds, known to breed in California, whose nests and eggs were yet undiscovered. One of these remaining few was the California Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola californica). In recording the discovery of the nest and eggs of this bird it is a fitting time, I think, to review the published literature referring to this species, at once one of the rarest, and most interesting forms of birdlife to be found in the great Sierran woodland. It .happens, however, that there is but little literature for reference; in .[act, many workers in the bird's range have failed to record its presence at all and few have found it in any abundance. Although the majority of these workers were in the field during the summer months, the home life of the California Pine Grosbeak has remained unknown. The table on the next page gives the published records of the bird's occurrence. Belding (1890) writes as follows: "Summit, Central Pacific Railroad, Aug- us_t 11, 1882, tolerably common; from June 23 to July 10, 1885, an adult male and female feeding in alders; during this time these only; but later, in August and September, not rare, in fact rather common. Blood's [Calaveras Ceunty] July 16, 1880, shot an adult female which probably had a nest; specimen sent to Smithsonian Institution." Dr. A. K. Fisher, in his report on the birds of the Death Valley Expedition (1893), says of this species: "Mr. Nelson saw a fine adult male pine grosbeak in brilliant plumage on the head of the San Joaquin River, July 30 [1891]. This individual was the only one seen during the year." W. W. Price, who was first to separate this bird from the eastern form,