390 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



June. The winters are mild j snow rarely falls, the plains after the first 

 rains being covered with grass, which, however, does not grow much 

 until March. Some of the species found at Marj^sville in winter are 

 the following; — Turdus ncevius^ T. migratorius (var. propinquus), T. gut- 

 tatm, Harporhynclius redivivus, Mimtis polyglottus, Dendroeca coronata, D, 

 auduboni, Helminthophaga celafa (var. lutescens), Geothlypis trichas, Vireo 

 huttoni, Ghrysomitris pinus, C. lawrencii, EremopMla alpestris (both the 

 typical form and var. chrysolccma), Bayornis nigricans, S. sayus, Picus 

 2nibescens,* P. nuttalli, Sphyropicus ruher, Melancrpes formicivorus^ Asio 

 accipitrintis, Speotyto '•'-liypogcm,''' Lanius horealis, L. ludoviciauKS, Melo- 

 spiza ^'fallax,^^ and Pipilo chlorurus. In June, the following, among 

 others, were noticed: — Turdus ustulatus, Thryomanes heivicM (var. spilu- 

 rus), Lanivireo ^^ cassini,''^ Vireo pusHlus, Coccysus americamis, PoUoptila 

 cwrulea, Picus '■'' gairdneri,^^ P. nuttaUi, TrocMlus alexandri, and Chamwa 

 fasciata. 



Munpni's, Calaveras Co. (lat. 38° 7', alt. about 2,400 ft.), is situated 

 at the line of junction of the chaparral belt and the pine region; that 

 is, between the upper edge of the former and the lower limit of the 

 latter, the line between these two districts being sharply dra^Mi by the 

 abrupt rise of the mountains on the east. 



The climate of Mui'phy's is nearly the same as that of Stockton, not- 

 withstanding the great difference of altitude (over 2,300 feet). The 

 days are rather warmer, even in winter, if the sky is unclouded : it is 

 more subject to cold storms, however; but if snow falls, it soon melts, 

 and the hills arc invariably covered with green grass after the fall rains. 

 It is above the winter fogs of the valley. The average rainfaU at Mur- 

 phy's averages nearly twice as much as that at Stockton, the rainy 

 season being longer, while the precipitation is more copious. 



The following species may be said to find the upper limit to their 

 breeding range in the vicinity of Murphy's : — Harporhynchus redivivus, 

 Chamcva fasciata, PoUoptila cccrulea, Lophophanes inornatus, Salpinctes 

 ohsoletus, Icteria longicatida, Phainopepla nitens, Carpodacus frontalis (var. 

 rhodocolpus), Ghrysomitris lawrencii, Gyanospiza amcena, Pipilo '■^crissa- 

 lis," Icterus hullocJci, Tyrannus verticalis, MyiarcJius cinerascens, Picus nut- 

 talli, Melancrpes formicivorus, Lanius ludovicianus (var. excuhitoroides), 

 Geococcyx californianus, and some others. This restriction, though not 

 absolute, is nearly so, and is due mainly to the abrupt change in the 

 character of the forest. 



About a mUe east of Murphy's, the road makes an unbroken ascent 

 of ten or twelve hundred feet in two mUes. For the next thirteen miles 

 there is no material change in the altitude ; but at this point there is 

 another rise of about eight hundred feet. At the top of this rise is the 

 "Big Tree" Grove. 



' Typical specimen scut from this locality ! — R. R. 



