410 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



and the habits of the species unknown. Through the government explora- 

 tions, however, we have been made more familiar with its habits and peculi- 

 arities. 



Dr. Newberry, in his report on the Zoology of Lieutenant Williamson's 

 explorations, mentions finding this bird very abundant in the Des Chutes 

 Basin. It did not frequent either dense forests or prairies destitute of trees, 

 but seemed to select surfaces covered with a scattered growth of pine and 

 cedar. His party first met with it at the base of Mount Jefferson, in the 

 canon of Mpto-ly-as Eiver. In picking his way with infinite difficulty down 

 this gorge, his attention was drawn by its new and attractive song. There 



were several of them in the pines and cedars 

 growing on the face of the clift'. He describes its 

 song as clear, full, and melodious, like that of a 

 true Minius. The next day, as he followed down 

 the river, in the bottom of the canon the deep 

 gorge was filled with a chorus of sweet sounds 

 from thousands of these birds. He describes 

 them as having a habit of sitting on the branch 

 of a tree projecting over a stream, or hanging 

 from some projecting crag, and at times flying 

 out in narrow circles, after insects, precisely in 

 the manner of Flycatchers. 



Afterwards, in another canon, the terraced 

 banks of which were sparsely set with low trees 

 of the Western cedar, he again found these birds 

 quite numerous, and had every opportunity both of hearing and of seeing 

 them, watching them for hours while feeding and singing. They began their 

 songs with the first dawn of day, and at sunrise the valley was perfectly 

 vocal with their music. He describes their song as not greatly varied, but 

 speaks of all their notes as particularly clear and sweet, and with strains of 

 pure gushing melody that were both spontaneous and inspiring. At that 

 time, September 30, they were feeding on the berries of the cedar. They 

 were very shy, and could only be obtained by stratagem. 



Dr. Kennerly, in his Eeport on the birds observed in the explorations 

 under the charge of Lieutenant Whipple, speaks of meeting with these birds 

 in the Eocky Mountains, in the vicinity of the Pueblo of Zuni, in New 

 Mexico. Thence, westward, he occasionally met with it, and usually in the 

 cedar thickets. 



Dr. Suckley mentions, in his Eeport on the Zoology of Washington Terri- 

 tory, obtaining a specimen of this species at Fort Steilacoom, April 28, 1856. 

 It was A^ery wild and difficult of approach. It was the only specimen ob- 

 tained, and he considered it accidental west of the Cascade IMountains. Dr. 

 Cooper, in the same Eeport, speaks of obtaining a specimen near Fort Lara- 

 mie in October, where it seemed to be not uncommon. 



Myiadestes townsendi. 



