A NEW JUNCO FROM CALIFORNIA. 



(Junco hy emails thurberi.) 

 BY A. W. ANTHONY. 



Not long since I was shown by Mr. E. C. Thurber of Alhambra, 

 California, two J uncos that differed from any that I had seen on 

 this coast, and upon inquiry was considerably surprised to learn 

 that he had found them nesting in abundance within twenty -five 

 miles of Los Angeles, the exact spot being Wilson's Peak, in the 

 San Gabriel Mountains, a spur of the San Bernardino range. As 

 we could find but the single pair in the two or three private collec- 

 tions of Alhambra and Los Angeles, an expedition to Mt. Wilson 

 was organized to obtain, if possible, a series of birds in late breed- 

 mg plumage. A series was obtained, but owing, to the lateness of 

 the season (August 27th) only young birds and those in ragged 

 moultmg plumage could be found. A few of the best specimens, 



however, show enough of the fresh fall plumage to make them ot 

 some value. 



J 



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one adult were taken, probably an isolated family, as no others were 

 seen until near the summit, where they were very abundant at from 

 5,200 feet to 5,800 feet above the sea. 



Owing to the very poor condition of the material at my command 

 1 was obliged to submit the series to Mr. Ridgway, hoping to find 

 m the National Museum collection specimens from southern Califor- 

 nia in breeding plumage. Mr. Ridgway's reply to my letter was 

 rather unexpected. He says: "We have perfectly tvDicallv soeci- 



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:alities: Mt. Lassen (June 8, 

 J. Frilner), Camp BidwelI(J 



y - • 1 , '■^"■j > j^^cv. \^n.piii 3, IV. Jtviagway;. 



in lact, with the possible exception of the coast district north of San 

 Francisco, al of the birds breeding in California appear to be of this 

 strongly marked race." 



Jm^^^^Z? '" "^""^"^ '^'^ handsome Junco for the discover- 

 er, Mr. E. C. Thurber of Alhambra, Cal. 



Su3s^. char Similar to/ /,. oregonus, but with sides paler and 

 fined '"''''^ ^ '• "^"''^^ P^^'^ P^^^' ^"^ "^"^^ ^^^'■P^y de- 



