NEST OF THE HOUSE FINCH

The House Finch, or Linnet, places its nest in
the bristling spines of the cholla cacti. When
the young hatch, excrement is allowed to collect
around the brim of the nest as shown. This be-
comes very hard and probably serves to protect
the soft bodies of the nestlings from the sharp
spines of the cactus.

A brood was raised in this nest, but the later
eggs were abandoned.

Superstition Mountain, Arizona

Museum Numbers 16623; 16600