2t20 XOTES ON CALirORKIA ANIMALS. 



(rrow. 



Passerella iliaca megarhyncha (Raird). Thirt-hUhd Sp((i 



Coniuiou about Mount Shasta in summer, where it frequented tlic 

 eliaparral tracts and the bushes scattered through the pine country. 

 Althouj;li no nests were found, its breeding there was indicated by the 

 number of iimnature birds uiet with. 



Passerella iliaca schistacea (Bainl). Slate-colored Sjyarrow. 



Tliis slate-colored variety was found in abundance in June in brushy 

 tracts everywhere about the eastern base of Mount Lassen. 



Pipilo maculatus megalonyx (Hainl). Spurred Towhee. 



The Spurred Towliee is an abundant, constant resident of all parts of 

 the country, excepting, perhaps, the higher slopes of the mountains, as 

 1 did not tind it on Shasta above 5,500 feet altitude. The nesting i)eriod, 

 as indicated by the dates of nests found in the valleys and foot-hills, 

 extends from the middle of April to the last of May. 



Pipilo maculatus oregonus (Bell). Oregon Towhee. 



:My coast specimens of the Towhee arc all typical oregonus. Abun- 

 dant in Humboldt County. 



Pipilo chlorurus (Towns.)- Green-tailed Towhee. 



The Green-tailed Finch was found to be quite common -in the brushy 

 tracts that are interspersed through the higher pine regions, never being- 

 found lower than the bases of Shasta and Lassen. 



Pipilo fuscus crissalis (Vig.).. Califoririan Towhee. 



An exceedingly common all-the year-round inhabitant of the foot hills 

 and valleys. It was very rarely found higlier than the border of the 

 heavy pine country. The breeding season ai)i)ears to be later than that 

 of P. mcoalonij.r, lasting from May 1 until July 1. The builders of these 

 latest nests may have been raising a second brood, but it is rarher 

 doubtiul. 



As it was noticed neither as f;ir north as Mount Shastii nor as far 

 west as Mount Lassen, its range in the interior of Northern California 

 m:iy be considered as limited to the Sacramento Valley and tlu' foot hills 

 which incdose it. 



Habia melanocephala (Swains.). Blacl-headcd Gi-osheal'. 



This grosbeak is a Common summer resident of the foot hill region, 

 never having l)eeu observed higher than 3,000 feet altitude. IL arrived 

 at Red Blutf May 1, and at Laird May 11. At Ked Blutf it jirobably 

 never remains to breed, but passes through to higher country. A nest 

 of three eggs was found at Baird "May 21, in some tangled bushes by the 

 river. It was comi)osed entirely of twigs, the lining consisting merely 

 of rather liner ones, and the whole not so (!ompactly built but that one 

 could see through it. The eggs, of a light blue color, weri' I'atiier closely 

 spotted, especially at the larg 'r end. These spots were in two layers. 



