Page:Condor3(6).djvu/46

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Nov., 1901.| THE CONDOR 83 Station Aug. 12, 1 01.

[Common above 6000 feet on both sides of the range, at Silver Creek and about Glen Alpine. W.W.P.]

Sitta canadensis. Red-breasted Nuthatch. Heard and seen frequently at Fyffe and specimens taken. [Common in the migrations at Silver Creek. May breed there. W.W.P.]

Sitta pygmaea. Pygmy Nuthatch. [A family of pygmy nilthatches were noted on Silver Creek, 70o0 feet in August 1896 and several were taken. It is possible they were migrating. W. W. P.]

Parus inornatus. Plain Titmouse. Recorded by Chas. A. Swisler in the vicinity of Placerville.

Parus gambeli. Mountain Chickadee. A common species from below Fyffe up to the summit and on both slopes of the range. The species nests early, usually selecting dead pine and spruce stubs as nesting sites. June 11, 1898 a nest was found at Fyffe with nine young about to fly; the nest was built in a cavity in the top of a pine stub, about three feet from the ground and was composed of a large quantity of bark strips and animal fur. June 8, 1899 Mr. Carriger found a nest four feet up in a stub, containing seven small young. At the Forni meadow on June 10, 1900 a nest was found built on a joist behind a base-board, the space of 10x7 inches being filled with a mat of hair and fur, in the center of which was a cavity holding eight eggs, slightly incubated. At Fyffe June 6, 1901 a nest with eight grown young was found eight feet up in a burnt stub, while at Slippery Ford on June 10 a nest six feet up in the top of a black oak snag contained young. The real song of this chickadee much resembles that of the golden-crowned sparrow.

Chamaea fasciata henshawi. Pallid Wren-Tit. On June 10, 1899 the familiar song of a wren-tit was heard in the chaparral near the Five-mile House. It prob- ably occurs thence downward in suitable localities.

Psaltriparus rainlinus californicus. California Bush-Tit. Noted quite often about Fyffe where two nests were found. The first was found on June 12, 1897 and was suspended from a small cedar eight feet up. The seven eggs were far advanced in incubation. June 14, 1898 I found a nest in a manzanita bush, con- taining six slightly incubated eggs. The nest was something of a curiosity having an entrance on top and another two-thirds of the way down on the opposite side, both being well rounded. The nest was lined warmly with feathers, among which were recognized those of the plumed quail and black-headed grosbeak.

Regulus satrapa olivaceus. Western Golden-crowned Kinglet. Although this kinglet is nominally a bird of the higher zones it undoubtedly breeds at Fyffe, al- titude 3,700 feet. On June 8 of the present year Mr. Taylor and I observed adult birds and apparently a brood of young flying about in a thick young spruce growth in the forest. An adult male and a juvenile were collected. Mr. Taylor collected a female at Glen Alpine Sept. 19, 1901. [I have never collected this form in summer at either Silver Creek or Glen Alpine. In 1896 , I found it common at Six-mile House. W.W.P.]

Regulus calendula. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Mr. Taylor took an adult female at Glen Alpine Sept. 19, 1901.

[Distinctly a bird of the Hudsonian zone. Breeds commonly in the forests of alpine hemlock on the slopes of Pyramid Peak and at the head of Glen Alpine. The male has a song of wonderful sweetness and strength. It without doubt breeds in these forests as I have seen the birds with food in their bills flying into a tall hemlock where a nest probably was concealed. W.W.P.]

Polioptila caerulea obscura. Western Gnatcatcher. Observed June 17, 1896 several miles west of Placerville. Also at Fyffe a few days later where a pair