INTRODUCTION Ivii 



This area consists of 'mountains' (Sierra Madre), and 'valley' (San 

 Gabriel). The mountains are divided into spruce-wooded 'higher 

 mountains,' such as Wilson's Peak and Mt. Lowe, and brush-cov- 

 ered 'foothills.' The valley is separated into a 'mesa,' the dry 

 elevated plain sloping down from the foothills ; and the ' lowlands,' 

 which include the 'willow bottoms,' such as the San Gabriel river 

 bed in the neighborhood of El Monte. The 'oak regions' occupy 

 an intermediate area, in places running up on to the foothills. 



In general, as far as I know, it may be said that the ' lowlands,' 

 the 'mesas,' and tongues extending up into the foothills are Lower 

 Souoran; that the 'oak regions,' and 'foothills,' and even the hot 

 slopes of the highest peaks, are Upper Sonoran ; while the north 

 slopes and deep canyons of the ' mountains ' to their summits, within 

 the ten mile radius of the list, are mainly Transition, but with a 

 trace of Canadian, and with such characteristic birds as the mountain 

 chickadee, blue-fronted jay, plumed partridge, junco, and slender- 

 billed nuthatch. Pasadena itself is Lower Sonoran, having such 

 birds as the phainopepla, mockingbird, road-runner, Texas night- 

 hawk, and Costa hummingbird. 



jflSchmophorus occidentalis : Western Grebe. Occasional winter visitant 



on the larger ponds. 

 Podilymbus podiceps : Pied-billed Grebe. Fairly common resident on 



tule-margined ponds. 



Gavia imber : Loon. Frequent in winter on large ponds and reservoirs. 

 Larus californicus : California Gull. Occasional in winter about ponds 



and streams. 

 Phalacrocorax dilophus albociliatus : Farallone Cormorant. Frequent in 



winter on the larger ponds. 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchos : American White Pelican. Occurs in migra- 

 tion ; also more rarely about ponds in winter. 

 Merganser serrator : Red-breasted Merganer - - Occasional midwinter 



visitant on the lowlands. 

 Anas boschas : Mallard. Fairly common resident in the vicinity of 



streams and ponds. 



Mareca americana : Baldpate. Common winter visitant. 

 Nettion carol inensis : Green-winged Teal. Common winter visitant. 

 Querquedula cyanoptera: Cinnamon Teal. --Common spring and summer 



visitant on ponds and marshes. 



Spatula clypeata : Shoveller. Common winter visitant. 

 Erismatura jamaicensis : Ruddy Duck. Common resident on the larger 



ponds. 

 Botaurus lentiginosus : American Bittern. Common winter visitant on 



marsh lands. 

 Ardea herodias : Great Blue Heron. -- Common resident in the lower 



country. 

 Ardea virescens anthonyi : Anthony Green Heron. Common migrant about 



streams and ponds. 



