ISHl".] I'ROCKKDlJJGS OV ttNlTED STATICS NATIONAI. MUSEUM. 2 1 f) 



tainly a couvciiieut building; imUcrial, for tlioie were more tliau a lum- 

 dred horses aud mules on the rauch, and combings Irom their manes and 

 tails were sticking everywhere about the stables and corrals. This 

 species was very abundunt in the timber belts of the Uppor Sacramento 

 Valley about the latter part of April, feeding among the new leaves of 

 the oaks, but later in the season had mostly scattered ofl" to their nest- 

 ing places in various parts of the valleys aud foot-hills. Xonc were 

 seen in the pine country or the high mountains. 



Scolecophagus cyaiiocephalus (Wugl.)- Jireiver^s Bluckhird. 



The most abundant of all the Blackbirds of IS^orthern California, and 

 like the other species a summer resident of all localities suitable for 

 blaekbirds. They were not luimerons at Red Bluff until near the last 

 of March. 



Family FRINGILLID.^. Fintciies, Spaukows, &c. 



Coccothraustes vespertma (Cooper). Evening Grosbeak. 



Seemingly very rare. Two specimens have been procured in this 

 region, one at Fort Crook, by Captain Feiluer, and the other at Yreka, 

 by Mr. Vuille. 



Carpodacus purpureiis californicus Biiird. California Purple Fincli. 



This species was observed on a few occasions only. It was taken at 

 Baird on June G, and again on the i'ith, 1883. A single individual was 

 obtained at the eastern base of JMouut Lassen on June 1, 1884, and it 

 ■was subsequently secured at Iluniboldt Bay in December, 1885. 



Carpodacus cassini Baird. Cassiu's Purple Finvli. 



Cassin's Purple Finch is an abundant summer inhabitant of the 

 mountains aud the pine regions generally. During tlie summer of 1883 

 it was found in abundance on the higher slopes, and especially along 

 the timber-line of Mount Shasta, where, although no nests were found, 

 its breeding was indicated by the large proportion of young birds pres- 

 ent. Very few were to be found at the base of the mountains and none 

 in the lower foot-hills and valleys, with exce]>tion of a single individual 

 taken on the Lower McCloud November IG. It is probably only iound 

 there when passing between its winter and summer homes. 



Carpodacus frontalis (Say). House Finch. 



The House Finch is a very abundant resident of all parts of Northern 

 California, except the pine forests and the high mountains. The major- 

 ity of those that are in the foot-hills in summer probably winter lower 

 down, for only occasional stragglers were seen at Baird ni winter. ^Vc 

 Red Bluff they begau nesting about May 1. Here their presence and 

 agreeable songs enlivened the usually unattractive buddings upon the 

 grain ranches, where they were the prevailing species during tl»e long 

 dry season when most valley birds seek the shelt 'r of the timber. The 

 "Linnets," as these birds are called m California, nest in all sorts of 



