1899.] VAX DEJfBURGlI — BIRDS OF SANTA CLARA CO., CAL. 171 



the valley which I have visited. That it is also very abundant in 

 winter and early spring may be seen fron:i the following item 

 from my notebook : 



" March 21, 1888. Counted seventy-two goldfinches in a large 

 white oak. Probably there were a hundred and fifty in all, mostly 

 »S psaltria, and the males were in full song, forming a charming 

 chorus for all their lack of leadership." 



Nest building begins early in April (March 30, 1889), and fresh 

 eggs may be found as late as the ist of August (July 31, 1888). 

 The number of eggs laid varies from three to five, but usually is 

 four. Rarely, sets of pure white eggs are found. I found one set 

 of four eggs, of the usual bluish tint, of which one was finely 

 dotted with reddish brown. The nests are built in all sorts of trees 

 and bushes (blackberry, raspberry, grape, maple, orange, apple, 

 peach, oak, fig, bay, greasewood, bamboo, etc.), at heights varying 

 from two to thirty feet. 



Aslragalinus lawrencei. Lawrence's Goldfinch. 



This species is not nearly so common as the green-backed gold- 

 finch, but is by no means rare. It nests in May and June and 

 usually lays five eggs. 



Spinas pinus. Pine Siskin. 



The siskin usually is a very common bird in winter, though 

 sometimes few are seen. I have not observed it in summer, but 

 Mr. James M. Hyde tells me that a pair nested in Santa Clara 

 several years ago. 



Ammodramus sandwichensis bryanti, Bryant's Marsh Sparrow. 



I never have noted this bird at Los Gatos, though it is common 

 at Palo Alto, especially in winter. 



Chondestes grammacus strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. 



The lark sparrow breeds commonly, throughout the county, in 

 April, May and June. I saw one carrying nesting materials March 

 22, 1889. The nests are built either on the ground or in trees or 

 bushes. The species does not occur at Los Gatos in winter (arriv- 

 ing in March), but probably is to some extent resident in the lower 

 parts of the valley. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys intermedia. Intermediate Sparrow. 



This form occurs in some numbers in winter, but is never so 



