18.^r.J PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 21? 



permeated it, and I am at a loss to explaiu its attraction for the birds in 

 any other way. 



A spring in a grove of aspens some miles away was also nnich fre- 

 quented by Crossbills, but as I saw them there only when i)assing by, 

 there was no opportunity for observing their habits. 



The thir<l place frequented by them was the vicinity of a tumble- 

 down hut by a spring in a grove of tamaracks. This place, known to 

 sheep-herders as Bridge Creek, was on the trail leading from Mount 

 Lassen to Susanville. Ifere we camped for a short time, and the Cross- 

 bills did not fail to appear each day, being especially active at morning 

 and evening. In this flock of old and young there were birds of every 

 color intermediate between the red of the male and the olive of the 

 female. 



As they perched in the tamaracks over the door, single ones were 

 easily picked ofl' with the small gun without disturbing the rest, and if 

 we retired to a suitable distance they would enter the shanty and pick 

 over the fragments of victuals that littered the earthen floor. 



Although I rambled all over the surrounding country, 1 do not re- 

 member finding Crossbills elsewhere than at these three places. 



Spinus tristis (Liuu.). American Goldfinch. 



Common at Red Bluff in spring and summer, where they were usually 

 found in flocks in the cottouwoods along the river. They were first seen 

 March 20. Also obtained at Humboldt Bay. 



Spinus psaltria (Say). Arkansas Goldfinch. 



The Green-backed Goldfinch is a common summer resident of the foot- 

 hill country, particularly the lower parts. A limited number Avander 

 higher into the mountains and still fewer remain in the valleys, although 

 two nests were found at Red Blufl' (April 30 and May 14). The first 

 one of the season arrived at Baird as early as IMarch 1. 



Spinus pinus (Wils. ). Pine Siskin. 



A considerable number of specimens of the pine goldfinch were col- 

 lected at Fort Crook by Capt. Feiluer. I did not meet with it myself 

 untd I arrived at Humboldt Bay in N^ovember, 1S85, where, however, it 

 was seldom seen. 



Poocaetes gramineus confinis Baird. Jl'estern Vesper Sparrow. 



Not represented in my collection, but common in the valleys, according 

 to Dr. Newberry and Mr. Henshaw. 



Ammodranius sandiwichensis alaudiuus (lip.)- Wesiern Sarannah Sparrow. 



This species was found in abundance at Red Bluff in spring and fall. 

 I^ot having been there in summer and winter, I am uncertain whether 

 it winters there, but there is little doubt that it remains through the 

 hot weather, although the greater part of the valley birds wander a 

 little higher up at that season. Large Hocks of the species were gath- 



