Page:Condor19(4).djvu/8

 122 THE CONDOR Vol. XIX -full sets, is nearly seven (6.85). The average number of young from eight nests is decidedly less, being not quite five (4.75). Probably the smaller num- ber of young than eggs per nest is d/e to the failure to hatch of one or more of the eggs in each set. The earliest record of eggs is the set of nine eggs found on March 26, 1905, while the latest that eggs were found still unhatched was April 22, 1906. Naked young were found on April 8, 1906, while in another nest leathered young were still in the nest on May 17 of the same year. By late summer the young have become fully grown and cannot be distinguished in appearance from the older birds. The nests are bulky structures composed chiefly of a bushel or more of Fig. 44. NEST OF MAGPIE IN OSAGE TREE; PRESCOTT, WASHINGTON. coarse sticks. They are placed from four to thirty feet high in the branches of a tree. Thorny growths are preferred, although orchard trees, locusts, cotton- woods, or practically any tree may be utilized. The nest is com- pletely arched over the top with the sticks, only one opening, or at most, two, just large enough to admit the bird into the large cen- tral space, being left on the sides. Many of the sticks used in build- ing the nest are thorny, so the structure makes an excellent de- fense for the eggs and young, as well as for the bird on the nest. The nest cup is made of some- what smaller twigs than the rest of the nest and is thickly plas- tered with mud. On the inside it is thickly lined with dried grasses. In one case the lining was made of dry pine needles, but pines are absent from Walla Walla County, except the few that have been planted for shade. In spite of the protection offered by the structure of their nest, at least oue brood of young magpies was attacked by some enemy. This nest, on April 22, 1906, held five naked young birds and one egg. The egg later hatched, making six nestlings. However, on May 2, there were only four young birds in the nest, all still much too young to fly, and one of these had a badly lacerated wing. The parent magpies are vociferous in the defense of their nests. Both male and female will closely approach an intruder, scolding with all their might. though at other times of the year they are notably shy and difficult to ap- proach within gun-shot rane. In one case at least, the same nest was used more than once. In this nest, in 1906, a brood of young was reared until they were nearly grown. Then both old birds were killed and some of the young