398 



PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



visits I have made to the place in different years, and once shot a young 

 one there as early as August 1. 



It is a rather rare summer resident at Big Trees, owing, probably, to 

 the absence of its favorite food, the juniper-berry. Once, while callino- 

 a companion with a policeman's whistle, I heard a shrill note in the small 

 oak-tree under whicli I stood. Looking up, I discovered the author of 

 the note, a male of this species, which had evidently been attracted by 

 the whistle, and was answering my call. 



73610 

 73872 

 73873 

 75312 



cT ad. :*Biff Trees. 



— ad. I Soda Sprin; 



— ad. I do . . . 



— jiiv. Big Trees. 



May 4, 1877 

 Autumn, 1877 

 Autumn, 1877 

 July 13,1875 



*10. Phainopepla nitens, (Sv,'.).— Black PfUof/oni/. 



This is a rather common summer resident of the chaparral belt, out 

 of which I have not seen it. It was observed several tunes on July 4 

 between Milton and Murphy's. I shot a male near Jenny Lind, toward 

 the close of the hunting season of 1S74, not later than March 12. Early 

 in April I have found it mated at Copperopolis, Calaveras Co. 



Its manners are well described by Dr. Cooper in the Ornithology of 

 California. The young in this collection was gorged with berries of' the 

 "wild coffee" of Murphy's, which differs slightly from that of Big Trees. 

 This berry is about half an incli in diameter, very round, red just before 

 ripe, black when ripe. 



73534 

 75313 



cf ad. 

 — juv. 



*Mur 



mhy'! 



Mar. 13,1877 

 AuR. 29, 1878 



Family SAXICOLID^ : The Saxicolas. 

 "11. Sialia mexicaua, fiw.—CaU/oniiaii Bhiehird. 



The Californian Bluebird is a common constant resident of the valleys 

 and foot-hills, and is also common as high at least as Big Trees in sum- 

 mer. It arrives at Big Trees about tlie middle of May. There it is 

 principally confined to the fields or meadows and tlieir borders. 



*Murphy's 



do"... 



do .... 



do .... 



*Big Trees, 

 do 



Winter, 1877 

 Winter, 1877 

 Winter, 1877 

 AVinter, 1877 

 Aug. 20,1878 

 Aug. 20,1878 



Murphy's ! Winter 



1877 



* 12. Sialia arctica, Sw.—Bocky Mountain Bluehird. 



This bird is an irregular winter visitant to the foot-hills and valleys. 

 It was first noticed at Stockton in the fall of 1878, on October 28. 'it 

 was common in the following I^ovember, showing a partiality for fences 

 along roads, sometimes perching on telegraph wires, seldom being seen 

 on trees. A flock was seen March 12, 1878, thirty miles east of Stock- 



