14 The Wilson Bulletin — No. S-t. 



Lark, White-rumped Shrike, Lazuli Bunting, American Bittern, Belt- 

 ed Kingfisher, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Western Gull, Turkey 

 Vulture. 



NOVEMBER ASPECTS IN SPOKANE COUNTY, 

 WASHINGTON. 



BY W. LEON DAWSON. 



The city of Spokane, now boasting some 75,000 inhabitants, 

 is situated in a region of pecuHar interest to the student of 

 Washington birds, and as yet very little has been published 

 relating to the ornithology of this northeastern section. The 

 interest is largely due to the still undefined Rocky Mountain 

 eleniient in the avifauna of Spokane County ; and the scarcity 

 of published material is my only excuse for presenting the fol- 

 lowing meager notes, gathered at random during what is pos- 

 sibly the dullest mouth of the year, Novemiber. Four weeks 

 spent in the "Imperial City" allowed the writer three Satur- 

 day half-holidays at nearbv resorts, and occasioual glimpses 

 besides of the birds about town. 



The country immediately surrounding Spokane consists 

 largely of lava benches and ridges, covered with a light growth 

 of yellow pine, and is further diversified by several deep-cut 

 river beds. Upon the east its timbered hills connect with the 

 mountain system of Idaho; while upon the west its gentler 

 slopes are largely surrendered to the plow. In the city itself, 

 Corbin Hill, with its handsome residences and its artistically 

 neglected corners, afifords asylum to many species of birds ; 

 and very commendable attention is being paid, not only here 

 but elsewhere in town, to the summer housing and the winter 

 feeding of the gallant Troubadours. 



Blinding frosts, occurring regularly through the month, have 

 warned away the less hardy birds, while the almost constant 

 sunshine of the middle day has rewarded the sturdier sort who 

 stay. No premature outburst of cold has occurred to drive in 

 the regular winter pensioners from the north, — the Snow- 

 flakes, the Bohemian Waxwings, and their ilk, — but as I write, 

 on the 25th, the snow is falling and the official change from 



