108 



SINGIXG BIRDS — OSCINES. 



This littlu l)inl, the rival uf the liuimiiin;4-hir(ls in hrilliancy and delicacy 

 of plumage, arrives in Santa Clara Valley as early as March 15th, and fre- 

 (£ueuts chiefly the groves of oaks along the sides of the valleys, and across 

 the whole Coast Eange, excepting the windy and cold neighborhood of the 

 sea. They range at least as far north as the Straits of Fuca, and across the 

 interior to the eastern base of the Eocky Mountains. Their nest is built in 

 the knot-holes of the oaks, and I have never seen them seek the vicinity of 



buildings for a dwelling, although not averse to the society of man, but 

 rather more numerous about towns, when their favorite trees grow in the 

 neighborhood. They select such small knot-holes, and generally in such 

 inaccessible situations, that I never succeeded in obtaining tlieir nest and 

 eggs ; but according to observers, they lay four, of a jjure white color, some- 

 what like those of the bank swallow. Townsend states that along the 

 sources of the Colorado Eiver they build in the deserted nests of the cliff 

 swallow. 



They migrate to the south in September. Their notes consist of a rather 

 faint warbling twitter, uttered as they sit on some low twig, their fa\'orite 

 perch ; when flying they seem to be rather silent. 



I ha\'e not observed this species west of the Coast Range, except when 

 emigrating. They appeared at Santa Cruz, in 1866, on March 19th, and a 

 large flock, with a few Chaiura, stojjfjed for a few hours on their way south- 

 ward, October 5th, which dates are probably about the usual ones for their 

 migrations. 



//. tkalasstn 



