THE CONDOR VOL. VII Rocky Mountain form. They are readily distinguishable from zeloies, the breed- ing bird of the Sierras. A/?oniana is probably a winter visitant, therefore, to south- eastern California from the northeastward. Sitta carolinensis aculeata. Slender-billed Nuthatch. Fairly common among the cottonwoods. Parus gainbelt. Mountain Chickadee. Common in the brush and cotton- woods of the river bottom. Psaltriparus rainlinus. California Bush-Tit. Fairly common along the river. The specimens secured are quite like those of the southern coast district of Cali- fornia, and these in turn do not present tangible differences from Oregon skins of the same s. eason. Auriparus flaviceps. Verdin. One specimen, secured by Dixon, was the only one met with. We found no mesquites in the vicinity of Victorville, and this evidently accounts f-r the absence of verdins. For farther down the Mojave River, at Barstow, both mesquites and verdins are plentiful. Regulus calendula cineraceus. Ashy Kinglet. Fairly common, mostly along the wooded bottom lands. But several were met with among "sage" bushes out on the desert. All the skins secured show large size, and graynesss of coloration conspicuous anteriorly. (See CONDOR V[, Jan. ?9o4, 25-) Myadestes townsendi. Townsend Solitaire. Solitaires were fairly numerous among the cottonwoods, wilere they were feeding on ulistletoe berries. Hylocichla guttata nana. Dwarf Hermit I'hrush. One specimen was taken by Pinget near the river. Merula migrat0ria pr0pinqua. Western Robill. Fairly comnloll among tile c? ttonwoods, where they were feeding on the mistletoe berries. Sialia mexicana0ccidentalis. Western Bhlebird. Abundant along the river bottom where they were feeding largely ?n inistletoe berries. Sialia arctica. Mountain Bluebird. Two flocks were encountered out on the desert quite a distance from the river. The Sage Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus BY L. E. BURNETTa EDITED BY S. ARTHUR JOHNSON HAVE had the pleasure of giving the sage grouse considerable attention, for, owing to my residence where the species is very numerous, I have been enabled to observe the birds at all times of the year. It is worth a long trip to see the male in full plumage at mating season. His striking dress and yellow air- aThe author of this sketch was boru in Luray. Missouri. His family moved to Colorado when he was a mere lad and settled near Loveland. After a residence there of ?everal year? they took op life on a ranch not far from l.ittle Medicine. Wyoming. which was his home until his death. From early childhood Mr. Burnett was a passiouate lover of animal life. He was much ?n the field auds, mght many times to tame his wild friends. Oue lall he had seven young antelope iu captivity. but the experiment proved a f. tilure owing to lack of proper' diet. Life in Wyoming gave him ample opportunity for observation and, by fiuniliarizing himself with the best litera- ture. he became imbued with the scientific spirit. In order that he might collect and I,re?erve. he learued the art of taxidermy and attained usual pr,?ficiency in that liue, He ?-trove always for expression it? hi4 work. and secured re- sults through his larae kuowledge ol wild life. The greater part ol the I ?-t two years of his life was spent in collecting and mouati?g mate?'ial for the museum of the colorado Agrici?ltural College. It was while hviag here that a severe attack of his lifelong enemy. asthma. took him from us Fro,. boyhood he struggled ?vith :t body weakened by chronic puhnonary troubles. His ambition and love of his work otteu led hi'u beyond ?he limit-; of his sirength His cheerful disposition and kindly attitude en- deared him to all with whom he calne in contact. Followtug plans laid by himself, his yahruble priwtte collection was presented to the public libr:lr,/ol Fm-t Collins, C(,1orado.--S A..?
