Nov., x9oo I THE CONDOR ?35 A List of Birds Observed on Mt. St. Helena, California BxZ WALTER K. FISHER? STANFORD UNIVERSITXZ? CAL. OUNT ST. HELENA is a bold chaparral peak that blocks the northern end of Napa Valley. It lies partly in Napa, Sonoma, and Lake counties, and is one of the southernmost high mountains of the northern Coast Range. The peak itself is about 46oo feet in height, and rises far above all the neighboring hills. From Calistoga it appears as a large dome, from the base of which elifly ridges radiate off in several directions. In between the ridges are deep picturesque canyons, some of which, especially those toward the Napa Val- ley, are taken up with ranches and vineyards. Timber extends up to a mean alti- tude of 24oo feet, above which the main covering of the mountain is a rather thick chaparral. On the southwestern half of the peak trees are more or less scat- tered, there being no very large areas of forest; but on the northeastern half trees are more abundant, and in canyons the stand of timber certainly deserves the name of forest. The woods are very attractive since they are composed of decidu- ous trees and conifers. The more conspicuous species are the following: Digger Pine (Pinnas sabiniana), Narrow-cone Pine (Pinus atlenuata), Yellow Pine (Pinus fionderosa), Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana), Douglas Spruce (Pseudotsu?a intact ala), California Nutmeg (T?tmion californicttm), Alder (?lln?s rhomb?folia), Poplar (Pofivhts trichocarfia), Black Oak (Quercus cal(fi)rnica), Live Oak (Qttercus a?_gri- rolla), Golden-cup Oak (Quercus chr,solqSis), Tanbark Oak (Quercus dens?f'ora), Blue Oak.(?Iuvrct?s dot?lasi), White Oak (Quercus ?arr?ana), Valley White Oak (Quercus lobata), Mountain Live Oak (Quercus wizlizeni), Bay ( (fmbellularia ca/i- fornica), Maple (?tcer macro/ShylD?m), Madrone (?Irbutus menziesi). Such shrubs as the Flowering Dogwood (Comus nullalii), Azalea (?tzalea occidentalis), Manzan- ita C/trctosta?ky[os of various species), Hazel (Co?:ylus rosD'ata cah?/brnica) Wild Grape ( l?7tis californicus) and Poison Oak (]ghus diversiloba), form a characteristic part of underbrush. Above the belt of trees the chaparral holds full sway, the following species being largely represented: Chamiso (.4de?toslenza fasc/ct?[atzlm), Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarfius belvla7.folius), Manzanita (?rclosta_p/(y[os cane- scens, ,4..landulosa, ?. manzanita, et ?. staJ?fordiana), Fringe Bush (Gar?ya fremonti), Pigeon-berry (]?hamn?ts cal?for?ica), likewise ]?hamnus ilic?folia, O?ercus wislizcni (scrub), A)'/othcrmia monlana, Dendromecon r?idum, ?anolhus fiarr.?,i(?), C. concaius, C. foliostts,, ?'. veluti?tus, C. cordtdaDts(?) (usually in canyons). The lif? zones represented on the mountain are two: Upper Sonoran and Transition. They are dove-tailed in a very confusing way. The former rises on hot sl'3pes to at least 2500 teet (and undoubtedly much higher in some places) anti is characterized by such plants as: Pinus sabinana, Ouercus dou?lasi, Quercus a?rzfolia, Quercus .?arry?na, small forms of Ouercus lobaLe, and b'itis cabfornicus. The Transition below 2500 feet is confined to cool canyons and north slopes, and comprises such species as O?erc?s callfore, lea, Ot?erc?,?s dens?)qora, Q:?erc?s chr?'so- lepis, .4rbul?zs ?ze?zziesi, Psettdo/sz?a mucron?l:?, PDt?s ponderosa, Pitzt?s /ambertia;vt, PDtt?s altenztata, TTtmon caltfornicum, ('orJtt?s nt?lta#i, .4zJlea occid?'nla/is, roslrala cal?fornica, and others. The chaparral area is largely Transition, ?vith certain Sonoran elements on the hotter slopes. Late in summer water becomes scarce and is confined to a comparatively few springs and small seeping streams. The following notes are based on observations made between August 29 and September ?4, rc?co. The publication of such a comparatively small list finds its excuse, perhaps. in th_ ? lo?atity. Some of the form? on Mr. St. H?lena are char- acteristic of the drier inland districts, while nearly related races are found in the
