Note 70 — BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. VOL. VII. July, 1882. No. 3.

A letter just received from Mr. Stephens contains the following very satisfactory confirmation of the above evidence. “The identification of your nest of S. picta is positive. I saw the parent plainly, and could easily have shot her. Indeed I should never have found the nest had not my attention been called to it by the birds flying from it as I brushed past almost within touching distance. When first found, the nest contained three eggs. I thought it best to leave them until next day to see if more might not be laid. * * * When I returned, however, the bird was not at home and as it was a long, rough walk to camp, I took the nest, their being no occasion to visit the spot again. * * * The locality was a wide part of a cañon between the two Santa Rita peaks, perhaps two miles from the top of the high ridge connecting them. Up this cañon passed an old Mexican road to the pine timber above. It had not been used for many years. In its course it cut through an occasional projecting bank, and in one of these places was the nest. It was under a small boulder in the side of a nearly perpendicular bank, which was but two or three feet high. The vicinity was heavily timbered with oak and sycamore. I regard the position as exceptional: still, it may be the rule.”