LOCAL AVIFAUNvE OF TDE GREAT BASIN. 325 



7. Birds of the mountain-meadows or "j)arks." — On the higher ranges 

 of the Interior, the gentle slopes of the upper canons support the richest 

 or most varied vegetation of the entire region ; especially is this the case 

 when they incline so gently as to form broad and nearly level meadows on 

 either side of the main stream, with pine forests and snow-fields on the 

 higher ridges and a copious volume of water in all th(^ l»rooks and rivulets. 

 Here the streams are bordered for their \vhulc Icii^tli with a luxuriant 

 shrubbery, the bushes consisting of numerous species, and overtopped here 

 arid there by occasional trees of the narrow-leafed cotton-wood {Poindus 

 anfji(stifolia), sometimes of 50 or 60 feet in height. The higher slopes are 

 densely matted with low l)ut vigorous bushes of "laurel" (Ceanotlms 

 rclutinus, C. sorediatus, and, in some ranges, Arctostaphjhs glauca), with 

 coriaceous, shining, deep- or dark-green foliage. Tlie greater ])ortion of 

 these upper slopes, however, are mainly covered with a rank herbaceous 

 growth, composed of very numerous species, and in season brilliant with a 

 variety of flowers of beautiful or showy appearance, among which the blue 

 spikes or panicles of Lt(pinm and Pentstcmon, the orange-red bracts of 

 Castilleia, and the lovely scarlet blossoms of Gilia aggregata are among the 

 most conspicuous. Species of Geranium are also very prevalent in places, 

 while, in many localities, low bushes of Symplwricarpns montanus are scat- 

 tered through the herbage. 



The birds most characteristic of these flowery slopes are not mnnerous, 

 but among them are several fine singers, whose clear and musical voices are 

 among the pleasant memories of these salubrious spots. The following are 

 the most chai*acteristic species : — 



1. Zonotricbia intcrniedia. ( Western ranges.) 



2. Zoiiotrichialeiicophrys. (Eastern ranges.) 



3. ras.serella scliistacca. 



4. Pooccctes coufiuis. 



5. Melospiza lincolui. 



G. Pipilo chlonirus. 



7. Stellula calliope. 



8. Selaspliorns platyccrcus. 



9. Trochilus alexaudri. 



8. Birds of the lowland-meadows. — The lowland meadows include the 

 bright sward of "salt- grass" {Brizopyrum spicatum, var. strictinn) of the low 

 river- valleys, the " bunch grass" (Port tenuifolia and Eriocoma cuspidata>, 

 scattered over the foot-hills, the patches of "rye-grass" (Elgmus condensatusf) 



