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 calling 

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

 oak-tree under which 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 



c? ad. i*Bi<i- Trees. . . 



— ad. I Soda Springs 



— ad. I do 



— juv. Big Trees — 



May 4, 1877 

 Autumn, 1877 

 Autumn, 1877 

 July 13,1875 



* 10. Pliainopepla uitens, (Sw.). — Black Ptilogony. 



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

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

 between Milton and Mur[)hy's. I shot a male near Jenny Lind, toward 

 the close of the hunting season of 1874, not later than March 13. 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 Murj)hy'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 



d" ad. *Murpliy's I Mar. 13,1877 



—juv. do Aug. 29,1878 



Family SAXICOLID^ : The Saxicola^. 



*11. Sialia mexicaua, S\v. — CaVifornkin Bluehird. 



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 the middle of May. There it is 

 principally confined to the fields or meadows and their borders. 



*Mnrphy's 



do ... 



do ... 



do... 



*Big Trees 



do ... 



Murphy's . 



Winter, 1877 

 Winter, 1877 

 "Winter, 1877 

 Winter, 1877 

 Aug. 20, 1878 

 Aug. 20, 1878 

 Winter, 1877 



* 12. Sialia arctica, Sw. — Rocly Mountain BlueMrd. 



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

 It was first noticed at Stockton in the fall of 1S78, on October 28. It 

 was common in the following November, showing a partiality for fences 

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

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



