CASSIN'S FINCH 281 



Grinnell (1908) records this species as very common in most of the 

 higher parts of the San Bernardino Mountains of southern CaHfornia, 

 between elevations of 5,000 and 10,000 feet. 



With regard to Cassin's finch in Oregon, Gabrielson and Jewett 

 (1940) say: "It is particularly abundant in the Cascades, the Blue 

 Mountains, and the Warner Mountains, where it is a conspicuous 

 element in the avifauna from the yellow pine up to timber line." 



In northwestern Montana, Burleigh (1921) says: "This was a plenti- 

 ful bird not only toward the tops of the mountains but in the 

 slashings and open woods in the valley." 



Spring. — At this season as in fall and winter, these finches tend to 

 stay in flocks, although single individuals are occasionally seen. In 

 certain regions where there has been a downward population movement 

 in the fall, the reverse trend may be noted in March and April. In 

 1927 James Moffitt (MS.) noted the first Cassin's finch on the western 

 side of Lake Tahoe, Calif., on March 17. On April 3 another individ- 

 ual was seen and three more on April 7. On the 20th of that month 

 these finches suddenly appeared in numbers and could be considered 

 common a few days later. 



WiUett (1933) in summing up various pubHshed and unpublished 

 records for this species in southern California mentioned Cassin's 

 finches seen on March 23 in San Diego, up to April 26 in Los Angeles, 

 and May 1 on San Nicholas Island. Such observations, of course, were 

 made in years when these finches underwent unusual population move- 

 ments during winter and spring in the areas concerned. 



Scott (1887) records Apr. 27, 1885, as the latest seasonal date on 

 which this species was observed in the Santa Catahna Mountains 

 of Arizona. 



Nesting. — The nesting season for this species begins in May, which 

 is rather early for an inhabitant of high montane regions, and extends 

 through July. It is only during these 3 months that Cassin's finches 

 are not found in flocks. The nests are almost invariably situated 

 in large conifers and usually near the terminal ends of limbs at a con- 

 siderable height above the ground. Nests are constructed of fine 

 twigs, weed stems, rootlets, and are frequently embellished with 

 lichens. The lining is generally of rootlets and hair, and occasionally 

 shredded bark. 



Milton S. Ray (1918) observed a pair of Cassin's finches building 

 a nest in a tall Jeffrey pine near Bijou at the south end of Lake Tahoe, 

 Calif., on May 14, 1911. He comments that snow was still present 

 on the ground in patches, and winter conditions in general stiH pre- 

 vailed. The same author (1912a) referring to this species at Star 

 Lake in the Tahoe region, on June 5, 1910, says: "The most important 

 find on the meadow was a nest of the Cassin Pm'ple Finch (Carpodaciis 



