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 July, 1902. I THE CONDOR 87 would have taken but little abrasion of the tips of these feathers to have rend- ered this bird indistinguishable from specimens taken during April and May. On Dec. 19 I secured another, almost a counterpart of the one described above, except that the black on the crown was not quite so extensive as in that bird. Whether these birds acquire the spring plumage through a moult of the entire crown, or whether they merely renew the few feathers which are en- tirely gray, is a question. As I have taken one or two summer birds showing very faint traces of gray in the black crown, I rather incline to the latter supposition. Possibly those birds which retain more or less of a black cap through the winter, are the old males; the younger ones retaining the plum- age of the female until the spring. Possibly, also, for several years they re- assume-this plumage each fall, and after each fall moult a few more gray-tipped black .feathers remain on the crown. As to the black streak over the eye, I think that it is acquired at an early age; I have taken quite young birds which show it distinctly. The time for the spring moult seems to be extremely variable; I have speci- mens taken at the end of February, with no trace of the black crown, and not yet commencing to moult; while on January 2o, 19o2 I took one with many pin feathers on the head and the black cap nearly complete. Usually, I think that the change of plumage is not fin- ished before the first week in April. No part of the bird but the crown seems to be affected by the moult, but winter birds have the back tinged with brown, which color disappears by spring. Often the plumage presents rather a worn and abraded appearance by the time the black cap is donned; I have taken specimens which had just barely acquired their black cap, and yet their retrices were so worn that the white markings of the lateral ones were com- pletely obliterated. An Unusual Set of Eggs of Clarke Nutcracker. BY H. C. JOHNSON, AMERICAN FORK, UTAH. I HAVE the great good fortune and honor to record thetaking on April 8, this year, of Clarke nutcracker, (2Vucifraa cclumbiana) male parent nest and five eggs; also the female par- ent, nest and three eggs on April 17, by W. Dunsdon on the southwest slope of Box Elder Mountain, Wasatch Range, Utah Co., Utah. The same collector secured the three nests mentioned in T; CODOt, May- June 19oo, and on the same mountain, Mr. Dunsdon to whom all honor is due is an old and seasoned miner and pros- pector and above all a courageous mountaineer. For four consecutive years he has made some of the gainlest mountain climbs in March and April, seeking the nests of that elusive rata avis, Clarke crow. He will permit no dallying with names, laughs at your latin and will not stand Clarke nut- cracker or Clarke crow; "It is just sim- ply 'camp robber,' lad, for I have known it as such before you were born and that settles it." In March he tried a "little trip" but could not get up the mountain, but early in April he made another attempt, gaining the altitude where he found his previous nests in x9oo. According to former experience gained he watched the birds rather than the trees but could not get around very much on account of the deep snow. Finally he was re- warded by seeing one fly directly to a large balsam tree near by; then he could see the nest. The setting bird immed- iately left the nest and the newcomer took charge of the incubation. For some two hours he waited, then the mate re- turned allowing the other to go. In