•2:\'2 N()Tr..S IN C'ArJFORNIA ANIMALS. 



umlcr the low shrublxMy and aiiioiigMlio falhMi tice tniiilcs in the dcciK'sl, 

 and wildest canons where the snidij^lit conld not penetrate. In such 

 (|niet i)laces I used to rest sometimes when making- a long round, aud 

 the stillness would often be broken by a note of alarm from this bird 

 when it had discovered so unusual an apparition as a human being' iti 

 its secluded retreats. He would lly into some pine near by and earnestly 

 reganl the motionless forms of the hunter and h)s dog, and if given no 

 further cause for alarm would remain in the vicinity quietly continuing 

 the ins])ection from various ])oints of view. 



Jn January and February, wheu the leaves had fallen and there was 

 snow in the gulches, it was often found among the oaks on the hi«»h 

 ridges, but nothing striking w^as observed in its habits, as it was rather 

 silent and solitary. In autumn I thiidc it fed on the berries of the juni- 

 pers that grew in the canons. It was not met with in the valleys or 

 the higher mountains, but was found in abundance in the redwood 

 forests of Humboldt ('oniity in ISTovember and December, 1885. 



Sialia mexicana Swjiiiis. Ji'csUni Illnchird. 



The Western liluebird is prob ibly entitled to be called constant resi- 

 dent, as I noted its presence at Baird in January, March, June, July, 

 August, iind Deciember. It was found breeding at the western base of 

 IMouiit Shasta late in July, where the only nest discov^ered was placed 

 in an old post hole in the ground. The post had been moved only a few 

 inches and the nest was under its shelter in its new position. Grasses 

 overhung ihe hole and the young birds, then nearly grown, were well 

 concealed. No other nests were seen, but from the constant presence 

 of bluebirds 1 have no doubt but a limited luimber of them were breed- 

 ing in the vicinity of Mount Shasta. 



They were common in the region around Mount Lassen ui June ami 

 July, 1881, where they were constantly associated with the Mountain 

 liluebii'ds {Sialia arcfica), which were much more numerous. 



Sialia arctica (Swjiins.). Mouniaiu Blnehird. 



This bird is a constant resident, migrating not northward and south- 

 ward, but up and down betv-zeen the valleys arul the high mountains. 

 I did not meet with it until I ascended Alonnt Shasta, in July, where 

 along the timber-line parent birds accomi)anied by full lledge<l young 

 were found in abundance. Stragglers were occasionally to be found 

 lower down, but the rule was ;S'. vie.ricfoia at the base and S. arvtica at the 

 'tind)er-line of the mountain. 



In western Lassen County, where tiie land has an elevation of r),0()() 

 or (5,000 feet, Mountain JJluebirds were very conunou in ,lune and 

 July. There they were usually ac(jompanied by such of the Western 

 Bluebirds as had straggled up that far. The presence of young birds 

 indicated that they were breeding in that region. Late in December 

 small bands of them were found Hying about the stubble-fields at litu 



