APPENDIX TO OSCINES.^ 231 



placer diggings, close to the miuers' cabins. It rarely ventures far from its favorite 

 rocky retreats ; but occasionally visits the road-sides to pick up flies and other insects 

 and sometimes hops over the roofs of cabins and mills, and nut infrequently chooses 

 the lidge as a convenient place from which to serenade its mate. It has a curious, 

 rapidly repeated note, that sounds like the whirring of wings ; its song is very beauti- 

 ful, louder and sweeter than that of the House Wren, though not as varied. While 

 singing, the bird usually perches on the top of a heap of stones, and stands erect, with 

 head thrown up, like the Carolina Wren. At such times it is quite timid, and if 

 alarmed, instantly ceases the song and looks anxiously around, bobbing itself up and 

 down every little while, like the Dipper, and presently creeps down into the stone- 

 heap. Late iu autumn its feathers become much worn from constant creeping among 

 the rocks. In September it disappears. 



[To synonyms of T. aijdon add: Hi/lemalhrous ciMon, Cab., J. f. O. 1860, 407. — E. C] 



Tkoglodytes akdon var. parkmani, rarlniaii's Wren. This bird, now regarded as 

 a variety of Trofjlodytvs aiidon, nevertheless presents manj^ distinguishing character- 

 istics from the latter bird, not only in size and color, but in notes and habits; and 

 hence, though merely a geographical race, may well be designated as Parkman's AVren, 

 in distinction from the typical House Wren. It arrives at Idaho in the middle of May. 

 and soon becomes abundant, extending its range up to 10,500 feet, and occasionally 

 venturing nearly up to timber-line. In many of its habits it is very similar to the 

 House Wren ; but it frequently haunts rocky hill-sides and cliifs and ledges of rock, 

 which I have never observed the latter to do. As is the case with many other birds, 

 its notes differ strikingly from those of its eastern relatives. It has far more variety 

 in its song, which at times is precisely the same as that of the House Wren, and at 

 others is very different, yet always wren-like — clear, ringing, and changeable. It has 

 one note which I never heard the latter bird utter — a rapid chirruping note, more like 

 the rattling noise ])roduced by a grasshopper or cricket than that of a bird, quite 

 similar, in fact, to the peculiar sound produced by the Rock Wren, referred to previ- 

 ously. This note it rarely utters, however; nor is it as fond of the scolding chatter 

 that the House Wi-eu uses so frequeutl;y to express its auger or alarn. It nests where- 

 ever it can find a chink or cranny to build iu — between the logs of a miner's cabin, iu 

 deserted mills, among the timbering about the mouths of old shafts and tunnels, and 

 iu any snug little nook it can find. It raises two and sometimes three broods; aud, 

 between 8,000 and 10,500 feet, the last brood is hatched in the latter part of July. The 

 eggs and nest are similar to those of eastern birds; the number of the former is usually 

 live, though sometimes only four. It disappears iu September. 



\_Tehnoioduics pahtstris was taken by Mekuiam (No. 62327, Idaho): U. S. Geol. Surv. 

 Ter. 1»72, 673.— E. C] 



[ Cintotliorus sfellarls. Satisfactory evidence of the presence of this species at Utah 

 Lake was obtained by Mr. Henshaw during the last season. — E. C] 



[To synonyms of Jiiorthiira tro</lodijtc'S var. hijemaUs add: Troglodytes parvidus var. 

 hycmali.'i. P.. B. & R., N. A. B. i, 1874, 155.— E. C] 



EREMOriiiLA alpestris var. ciiRYSOLiEMA, Western Horned Lark. This bird is not 

 abundaut in the mountains, there being few localities suitable to its habits. It is 

 rather common in Bergen's Park, and may be seen occasionally iu. the mountain val- 

 leys and meadows and on hill-sides, as well as above timber-line, breeding from the 

 foot-hills up to the summit of the range, wherever it can find a spot adapted to its 

 tastes. Although abundant on the plains throughout winter, it does not enter the 

 mountains till si)ring. On the 11th of .Inly I found several pairs iu an extensive grassj' 

 plain near James' Peak, at least a thousand feet above timber-line, that were evidently 

 breeding tliert^, although I looked iu vain for their uests. They were a little larger, 

 apparently, tlian specimens from the plains, and very brightly colored. 



Antiius ludovicanus. Brown Lark. Abundant; migratory; breeds iu great num- 

 bers above timl)er-line. The Titlark arrives at Idalio Springs in the early part of May, 

 fre(iuenting (.]ten hill-sides, and showing a partialily to the i)lowed fields of monntaiu 

 ranches. By .June it has ascended to Xhv summit of the range, and commences nest- 

 ing almost as soon as the snow has suflicientiy melted to allow the ground to dry and 

 th(' grass to come up, incubation beginning iu the iiist and second weeks in July. The 

 nest is placed under the shelter of a i)r().iecliiig stone, and is very neatly constructed 

 of coarse grass externally, lined with line grass, and is about three inches and a half 

 in diameter. The eggs are fiv(! in nunilxT ; the ground-C(dor dark brownisli-]>inple, 

 almost hiilden by sjjots and splashes of pur|dish-black. Eggs from different m sts vary 

 Romewliat in the intensity of the coliirs, some being mucli lighter and grayer than 

 others, but the general aspect is always (piite chirk. There is also coiisiderahle vari- 

 ation in th(' colors and size of individual birds; in some tlie le;;s being black, in others 

 lighter, occtasionally light brown; some having two bands of white on the wings, and 

 others having no trace of them whatever; some benig nineli darker beneath than 

 others; with other variations. Notwithstanding which, I could not ilefnie any well- 

 marked or constant varieties, as, among a large nuinlK-r of spccimen.s, the various 

 forms of coloration aud size seemed to shade impercei)tibly into each other. 



