Page:CooperBull1(5).djvu/7

 BULLETIN OF THE (2OOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 8 3 able to fly. Not far from this pair of adults I noted a male and two more a mile further on. In several other places along the creeks I found birds in May and June and this year toward the last of May discovered a completed nest near where I had seen the young two years ago. The nest was about ten inches off the ground among a cluster of ferns in just such a locality as before described. I had to part the ferns to see the nest and the parents made quite a fuss, but abandoned the premises as I discovered ten days later. It seems to be a common trait with this xvarbler to desert its nest after dis- covery. A friend found a nest in this county on June 3 containing two fresh eggs and on visiting it June 6 it held no more. On the 7th we both went to it and the female was incubating her two eggs. The nest was eight or ten inches from the ground among wild black- berry vines on the creek bank in an open part. The same collector took a nest and four fresh eggs two miles from this site on June 6. Macgillivray's Warbler is shy, retiring and rather more common than expected if sought for without too much noise. Mr. W. O. Emerson reports this species at Haywards in various seasons as fol- lows:--Female shot on May 2, x88x; nest of five downy young on May 22, x88x, on creek bank in thick brambles 2 feet from the ground; male seen May 27, x883, along creek; three males seen in a ravine April x2, 895; two males seen on April 8, 897, in thick brush on the hills. DONALD m. COHEN. Alameda, Cal. Notes on the Nesting of the Slender-billed Nuthatch. HIS interesting bird may be classed as a common resident in this locality, but notwithstanding, several pairs succeed in raising a brood each season they do not increase, al- though a pair are invariably to be found in their old breeding grounds ev- ery year. Scattered throughout the valley are many large white and black oaks and in these the birds secure their food and find suitable nesting sites. They apparently remain paired the year round and are early nesters. My earliest nest was found March 23 and contained four fresh eggs and by the middle of April it would be hard to se- cure fresh eggs. A natural cavity is prefered but occasionally an old wood- pecker's cavity is used. The nest is composed of grass, moss, strings, fur, hair and feathers, of which materials the cavity usually contains a large amount. The nuthatch is a close sitter and occasionally one or more eggs are broken while removing the bird. A full set contains from five to nine eggs, the average being seven or eight. When the set is complete one of the birds remains on the nest and the other now leads a very active life for it fur- nishes food for its nesting mate. The bird covers considerable ground in look- ing for food and when it reaches a tree nearly every limb seems to be searched for lurking insects and when one is secured the bird takes the nearest way to the tree where its nest is concealed, and going to 'the cavity delivers the in- sect and is off again in search of an- other. While searching for food it can be heard calling at short intervals and it is during this time that I generally locate my nest, but if the bird discovers you it will change the method of reach- ing its nest, going in a round-about way and thus often eluding one, no matter how carefully he may watch, and if you do reach the tree and are seen before the bird delivers the insect, it will not, in most instances, deliver the food while you are about. I have never found the birds in heavy timber, but found a pair on the high ridge between Sonoma and Petaluma valleys, to reach which they must have travelled through heavy timber. It was an ideal place for the birds, being sparsely covered with large oaks where they could find plenty of food and good nesting sites. My observations tend to show that these birds are beneficial and deserving of protection from all. I would like to see them increase and often wonder what becomes of those raised in this valley. HENRY W. CARRIGER. Sonoma, Cal.