VOL. III.] Notes on Phainopepla Nitens. 313 



As a general thing it is rarely observed near the coast, except 

 along the San Diego and Sweetwater Rivers, where willows, cotton- 

 wood and oak trees are abundant, and the adjacent hills covered 

 with shrub oak, sumachs, buckthorn, and sage. Rarely seen on 

 the mesas about San Diego and other regions where Adenostoma 

 fasciculatum, A. sparsifolhim.Hosackia glabra, Rhtis ovata,R. integ- 

 rifolia constitute the main flora. With the increased planting of or- 

 chards in these localities it is becoming more common. 



It is occasionally observed at Coronado since the planting of the 

 avenues with Eucalyptus, Cupressus macrocarpa, Olea Europcea, 

 Abies excelsa, Schimis molle, Eicus carica, Grevillea robusta, Cit- 

 rus and palms, but I have never observed it nesting there. In 

 favorable localities it is common and breeds. 



Among children and those not conversant with ornithology it is 

 known by the following names: — 



Black Crested Flycatcher, Black Mocking Bird, Mountain Phoebe, 

 and Red Eyes. 



The Phainopepla arrives at Poway about the first of May, the 

 males usually arriving several days before the females. They are 

 rarel)'^ seen after the middle of August. 



Poway Valley is situated twenty miles northeast of San Diego, four- 

 teen miles from the seacoast, and thirty miles distant from the edge 

 of the coniferous belt, with an elevation of 700 teet. 



The principal plants of this region are: Quercus dumosa, O. agri- 

 folia, Platanus racemosus, Populus Wislizeni,'^^ Alniis oblongi folia,* 

 species of Salix, Rims laurina, Rhamnus ci'ocea. Primus demissa,^ 

 Sambuctis glauca, Ceanothus sorediatus,'^ Adenostoma. sparsifolitmi, 

 A. fasciculatuin, Artemisia Calif ornica, Opuntia occidentalis , O. pro- 

 lifer a. 



Shortly after arrival the male selects a site for a nest and proceeds 

 to its construction, which may be completed before the female ar- 

 rives, but if not she assists. Late arrivals commence labor together. 

 The mates make alternate trips to and from the nest in search 

 of building material, one remaining upon the slowly growing nest, 

 arranging the last accession and pressing it into place; as the return- 

 ing mate approaches, they exchange a purring salutation and ex- 

 change places. The nests are placed at varying distances from the 



*But sparsely distributed. 



