410 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



and the liabits of the species unknown. Through the government e.xplora- 

 tions, ho\ve\-er, we ha\'e been made more familiar with its habits and peculi- 

 arities. 



Dr. Newberry, in his report on tlie Zoology of Lieutenant Williamson's 

 explorations, mentions finding tliis bird very abundant in the Des Chutes 

 Basin. It did not frequent either dense forests or iirairies destitute of trees, 

 but seemed to select surfaces co-\-ered with a scattered growth of pine and 

 cedar. His party first met with it at the base of Mount Jefferson, in the 

 canon of Mpto-ly-as Eiver. In picking his way with infinite difficulty down 

 this gorge, his attention was drawn by its new and attractive song. There 



were several of them in the pines and cedars 

 growing on the face of the cliff He describes its 

 song as clear, full, and melodious, like that of a 

 true Mi in US. The next day, as he followed down 

 the river, in tlie bottom of the canon tlie deep 

 gorge was filled witli a chorus of sweet sounds 

 from thousands of these birds. He describes 

 them as liaving a habit (if sitting on tlie liraiicli 

 (if a tree projecting over a stream, or hanging 

 lidin some projecting crag, and at times flying 

 out in narrow circles, after insects, precisely iu 

 llu' manner of Flycatcliers. 



Afterwards, in anotlier canon, the terraced 

 banks of which were sparsely set with low trees 

 of tlie Western cedar, he again found these birds 

 lad e\'ery opportunity lioth of hearing and of seeing 

 them, watcliing them for hours while feeding and singing. They began their 

 songs with the first dawn of day, and at sunrise tlie valley was perfectly 

 vocal with their music. He descril)es tlieir song as not greatly varied, but 

 speaks of all their notes as particularly clear and sweet, and with strains of 

 pure gushing melody that were botli s])ontaneous and inspiring. At that 

 time, September 30, tliey were feeding on tlie berritw of the cedar. They 

 were very shy, and (-(juld only lie olitained by stratagem. 



Dr. Keuuerly, in Ids Ueport on the birds observed in the explorations 

 under the charge of Lieutenant Whipple, speaks of meeting with these birds 

 in the Roclcy Mountains, in the vicinity of the Pueblo of Zufii, in New 

 Mexico. Thence, westward, he occasionally met with it, and usually iu the 

 cedar thickets. 



Dr. Suckley mentions, in his Report on the Zoology of Washington Terri- 

 tory, obtaining a specimen of this sjiecies at Fort Steilacoom, April 28, 1856. 

 It was very wild and difficult of approacli. It was the only si^ecimen ob- 

 tained, and he considered it accidental west of the Cascade Mountains. Dr. 

 Cooper, in the same I!e])ort, speaks of obtaining a sjiecimen near Fort Lara- 

 mie in October, where it seemed to Ije not uncoiiiiiinii. 



MyiadfStfS townsindi. 



quite numerous, and 



I 



