. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Dawson Leuco hair. The nests are, naturally, of the sturdiest construction, with walls from one to three inches thickness, with hollows deeply cupped. By rea- son, therefore, of their substantial character, as well as their protected situation, old Leucos' nests will reward patient search in almost any part of our higher peaks. Eggs of the Leuco are of the purest white, un- marked. Their shape is ovate, or elongate ovate, with an unusually shar
. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Dawson Leuco hair. The nests are, naturally, of the sturdiest construction, with walls from one to three inches thickness, with hollows deeply cupped. By rea- son, therefore, of their substantial character, as well as their protected situation, old Leucos' nests will reward patient search in almost any part of our higher peaks. Eggs of the Leuco are of the purest white, un- marked. Their shape is ovate, or elongate ovate, with an unusually sharp decrease in size toward the little end. This shape is said to be characteristic, also, of the genus Montijringilla of the Old World; and the oological evi- dence goes to show that the two genera, Leucosticte and Monti- jringilla, have a common origin. The pace of the Leuco day quickens when these white ovals part and naked babies, to the number of four or five, are born into this world of snow-glare and hunger. The parents, however, have capacious throats, or crops, and to obviate the handicap of a long haul, comparatively infrequent visits are made to the nest. I have seen parents making trips every five minutes, but ten- or fifteen-minute intervals are more usual, with half an hour, or such a matter, for older birds. Food material rarely protrudes from the parental beak, but the nature of the visit, whether parental or conjugal, may be surely determined by the presence or absence of the fcecal sac, the laden diaper, without which no self-respecting parent will quit the presence of his (or her) offspring. We should hesitate to in- vestigate this intimate matter, were it not for the cocky assurance and frank delight with which the fond parent bears off this lowly emblem. He seems to come like the bearer of good news and beams a cheerful "Family well," in response to our courteous inquiry. As a matter of fact, this arrangement for rigid sanitation is one of the most
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
