THE. CO.IB.R Volume XIX September-October, 1917 Number NOTES ON THE NESTING HABITS OF THE CLARKE NUTCRACKER IN COLORADO By W.C. BRADBURY ?%rlTH FOUR PHOTOS AVING failed in previous attempts to secure eggs of the Clarke Nut- cracker (Nucifraga col,mbiana), I determined in the winter of 1915-16 to make further special efforts. Among other preparations I engaged Mr. H. It. Sheldon, whose experience as a field naturalist on the staff of the Colorado Museum of Natural History ha& been quite extensive, to make a special trip to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Range, in S&guaehe County, Colorado, and to take full and accurate daily notes of all observations. The region to be worked, about 280 miles by rail from Denver and 25 miles from the nearest railroad station, was reported to a?e as a favorite nesting locality for this species. Though for many years familiar with the summer and fall habits of this bird, and having read numerous arttel.es on this subject, including the excellent one by Mr. M.P. Skinner in the March-April, 1916, number of THE CONDOR, I was not familiar with its nesting habits, and thought possibly a few more details regarding the same, as observed by Sheldon, might be acceptable to T?m CONDOR. Being unable to accompany Mr. Sheldon, I confine myself here to quotations from the letters, field notes and data received from him during, and at the end of, his work, as follows: "Was considerably delayed in getting started and late in getting in. Made camp in foothills of Mount Blanca, March 22, 1916. Altitude about 8,300 feet. "March 23rd. Located the birds (Nutcrackers) on ridges and in canyons about 8,500 feet altitude; pinyons and junipers constituting growth, except a few scattering pines and firs in the canyons. "First nest found on rocky, pinyon-covered hillside. Was attracted to
