1903.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 13 



least from Sierran birds. Nor do they look much different from 

 Sitkan skins. However, we have no certified examples of occidentalis, 

 which is a supposedly distinct form said to occupy the humid northwest 

 coast belt. 



Sitta carolinensis aculeata. Slender-billed Nuthatch. 



This bird was seen everywhere from the Klamath river to the upper 

 edge of Transition. It seems to lead the mixed flocks of Parus, Regulus, 

 etc., with which it is nearly always seen. Seventeen specimens were 

 obtained. 



Sitta canadensis. Red-breasted Nuthatch. 



The Canada nuthatch was far less conspicuous than the preceding 

 species, though it was probably no less common. It also accompanied 

 the mixed flocks of chickadees and kinglets to some extent, but seemed 

 to prefer the coniferous trees to the oaks which the slender-billed nut- 

 hatch so largely frequents. Previous to December 26 no individuals 

 were seen. The specimen shot on that date was rather high up in 

 Transition, and was, it seems probable, just descending from the Cana- 

 dian zone. For the species was shortly afterward common. 



Parus gambeli. Mountain Chiclcadee. 



This chickadee was constantly present among both the oaks and 

 coniferous trees throughout Transiton and up into lower Canadian. 

 The fourteen specimens brought home have on an average smaller 

 bills than a series from the mountains of southern California (just as 

 with Xenopicus). This is the westernmost record for this species. 



Parus rufescens rufescens. Chestnut-sided Chickadee. 



This bird was almost always found in company with the mountain 

 chickadee, forming mixed roving bands. The series of twenty-one 

 specimens is uniform and quite like birds from Sitka and Oregon. It 

 would be highly important to know whether this species and the last 

 occur together in summer also, and breed in the same locality. 



Psaltriparus minimus. California Bush tit. 



This was another very common bird in the black oak forests, but 

 occurred in the coniferous woods as well. It was not, however, 

 observed above the limit of Pinus ponderosa. The ten specimens taken 

 present no differences from corresponding plumages of birds from cen- 

 tral and southern California. Nor are there any characters to dis- 

 criminate the few specimens we have from Oregon and Washington 

 from those from California. Judging from the specimens at hand, there 

 is little or no evidence of a race californicus. There is considerable 



