VOL. IV.] Random Bh'd- Notes. i8i 



note, much like the notes of the purple finch. After singing 

 several notes they would dive into the brush like the wren-tit. 



Spurred towhees were not uncommon all through the valley, 

 and the green-tailed towhee {Pipilo chlorurus) were seen about 

 bushes near camp. Mr. Denton collected a number of them in 

 his visit here in 1881. 



The black-headed grosbeak {Habia melanocephalct) was very 

 common all through the valley. They came into camp in pairs 

 and helped themselves from the table, not seeming afraid of 

 anyone; no doubt had young near by. The males were on good 

 terms with each other, eating from the same piece. They 

 repaid us by singing from the tree tops at first light of day and 

 last at night. 



Lazuli bunting {Passerhia amoena) was not common in the 

 valley and only seen about orchards. Louisiana tanagers were 

 common all through the thickest forests, preferring the tall firs. 

 I heard no notes from them and they did not appear to have 

 paired ofi". 



The notes of the western purple martin {ProgJie sicbis hesperia) 

 were heard in some old oaks near the Stoneman House, like the 

 old farm-place of my eastern home. At two camping-places in 

 the foothills I noticed young martins. 



Violet-green swallows were seen in company with the two 

 species of swifts high up on the Glacier Point trail. They no 

 doubt nest in the cliffs as very few trees were suitable on the 

 wall ledges. 



The only vireo observed in the valley was the warbling 

 ( Vireo gilvus) . 



Lutescent warblers [Helminthophila celata hdcsccns) were not 

 common and only twice observed along the river banks in thick 

 brush. 



Audubon's hermit and yellow warblers were seen but once 

 during my short stay. 



A pair of Macgillivray's warblers {Gcothlypis macgillivrayi) 

 were seen in thick azaleas near the river and acted as though they 

 had a nest near the spot. 



American dipper {Cinches mcxicanus). The first bird to greet 

 me on getting into the valley was this water spirit, at the foot of 



