28 THE CONDOR VOL. X edge of a clearing in the dense fir woods, and fully exposed to the sun. Since then I have found a number of nests in similar locations, the vast majority, unfor- tunately, being either old ones or decoys. These last are quite plentiful, tho I am by no means certain that they are not nests which for some reason had proved un- satisfactory before completion and on that account were deserted. Nest-building commences about the third week in April, either an oak or a fir being selected for the purpose. The only exception I have ever known to this was one bird that I had watched until it disappeared under a strip of bark fully sixty feet up in a giant cedar. Since the bird did not come out while I was watching, it is fair to presume that the nest was there. NEST AND EGGS OF THE TAWNY CREEPER EXPOSED The nest is placed, as a rule, from two to twenty feet above the ground, tho the majority that I have seen were under ten feet. As is cus- tomary with the other creepers it is built under a strip of bark that has scaled away from the trunk of the tree. The bird student cannot be too careful in examining every tree, as it is surprising how small a piece of bark is sufficient to hold the nest. I passed by one nest that was in plain sight and must have had eggs at the time, simply because the fir that held it was only three inches in diameter and seemed too small to be worthy of a close examination. Usu- ally the twigs in the nest project beyond the sides of the protecting strip of bark and thus betray its where- abouts, but in some instances the strip of bark is so broad as to completely hide all signs of nesting material. Another matter that must be guarded against I learned by a most annoying experience. Scarce as the birds are, if the surrounding conditions are suitable at least two pairs may be found nesting in the same vicinity. On May Sth of the present year I took a nest containing five slightly incubated eggs, and, as the birds are so rare, it did not occur to me to search for any more just there. Visiting the place again two weeks later in search of a possible second nesting, I found another nest containing five young only a little more than a hundred feet from the first one. This seemed a little remarkable from the fact that hundreds of bark scales may be found in apparently suitable locations without any indications of creepers being in the neighborhood. [n its corn.position the nest has a groundwork of twigs, the size of which d..e.-
