Page:Condor2(5).djvu/14

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xio THE CONDOR [ Vol. II harsh call note very similar to that o'f the Louisiana Tanager. CASSIN'S PURPLE FINCH (Cari5odacus cassbti). Common about camp and as high as 9,ooo feet, where it was feeding along the edge of the snow. At this date the birds were gregarious at this altitude. Near camp several came to a tree near our cabin and were collected. anlong them being one male bird in the gray plumage. GRAY-CROWNED LEUCOSTICTE (Leu- costitle tGbhrocotis). A pair secured at the summit of Pyramid Peak, on June IO. PINE Sm?:?N (Spinuspinus.) A fleck was observed flyirj about the corral near camp, and etimrs at 9,ooo feet along the snew, all giving the twittering goldfinch notes. Gregarious at this date. VHITE-C RO?VNED SPARROX. V trichia ]t'ltOjb/ll?l'$). A cemmcn songster in the meadow and up as high as 8,ooo feet. I found a nest built two feet from the ground iu a thick bush, on June containing one egg, the bird flushing as I brushed past the bnsh. WESTERN CHIPPINt; SPARROW (Spi- ldla s. arizon'). Heard several times at 7,5oo feet. TIIURBEWS Jt'NCO (Junto h. thurbcri). Seen and heard eonmlonly at 7,500 feet, where it was net yet breedihg on June io. Two specimens were cdleeted. LOUISIANA TANAGER (Piranga ludovi- ciana). Observed sparingly at 7,5oo feet. Much commoner at lower altitudes. ? SwAI. I.OW ( 7bc/u'ci, eta '). Either the Violet-green or Tree Swallow was observed about camp by Mr. Atkin- son. WARBLING VIREO ( I'll'CO Heard commonly about our camp. It seems strange that this valley bird should outrank the other vireos in this region, no other vireo song being heard. At'ot'nON'S W^RBLER (Dendroica auduboni). Breeding at 7,500 feet. A nest and four eggs taken June HE?I?T ?'ARBI.ER (])endrot'ca occi- denialis). One specimen seen on June 9, among the' tanrepacks. Pvo.?tv NUTHATCH (Sit/a pygmwa).. A nuthatch, doubtless of this species, was several times heard near camp. MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Parus ;flaMe- bell). Common about the rotten stubs . and a set of eight slightly incubated eggs taken June m. Mr. Atkinson found a nest just completed in a stub, but containing no eggs. Atmt;nON'S HE?IIT T?-IRUS? (H),Io- chichla ao, alaschkw aud,boni). The song was several times heard toward evening, from the tamarack forest, on June 8. WESTERN ROBIN' (,?[erzda m. propin- qttct). A common resident in the mead- ow, nests with eggs being found June 9 and ?o. MOUNTAIN BI,UEBIRD (.?alia arctica). A nest was found in a stub by Mr. Atkinson at 9,ooo feet, containing one egg. The nest was composed of grasses. The American Titlark in Spring Plumage in Los Angeles Co., Cal. B()UT the middle of April, I899, xvhile crossing a swampy bit of pasture, I flushed several Titlarks (Mnlhus pensilvanic,s) and as I wanted some specimens, I shot two. On pick- ing them up I was very much surprised and puzzled at the plumage one of them was in; all that I had shot before had been during the winter months, and they were very unlike the bird .I now held in my hand, so much so that I could hardly believe that they were of the same species. This bird had the back of a decided ashy tinge, and the under parts, which were of a vinace6us color, were altogether unspotted, except for a few faint, almost invisible specks on the throat. The other bird was not so ashy on the back, and the lower parts were rather heavily spotted, though not so much so as the winter specimens. On dissection the unspot- ted bird proved to be a male, the other a female. I looked through all the descriptions