DKSCRirTION OF CAMPS, 349 



Rhiiiogrypbus anra {ercrijichcrc) April 2. 



Iliruiido hiirniorum {itbout harm) . April 8. 



Spizc-lla bri'wcri (.s«//c hruxh) April 9. 



Sti'lgitlopteryx scnipeiiiiis [rtirine banks) April 15. 



Progne stibis {about huildimjH) Ai)ril 23. 



Zonsedura carolincnsis (cvcryu-licre) April 23. 



Cboudcstes graminaca [sagebrush) . . May 3. 



Petrochelidoii Uinifroiis {about barns) May 4. 



(I. Valley of Carson liinr. 



The prominent characteristics of the \alley proper of the Carson 

 River consisted of meadow -lands, with dense willow thickets near the 

 river. In the latter, the winter birds were the following species: Turdits 

 migratorius, BeguUis calendula, Certhia americana, Troglodytes parkmanni, T. 

 hyemalis, Dendrocca auduhoni, Zomtrichia intermedia, Melospiza heermanni, 

 Passerella schistacea, Pipilo oregonus, Pica hudsonica, Picus harrisi, Colaptes 

 inexicanus, and Otus wilsonianus. The marshes were inhabited by Tclma- 

 iodytes paludicola, Mchspiza heermanni, Circus hudsoniiis, and Botaurus minor. 

 The water-fowl of the valley were, Branta canadensis, B. hufchinsi, Anas 

 boschas, Aythya americana, A. vallisneria, Bucepliala americana, B. aWeola, 

 Fulix marila, F. collaris, Erismatura ruhida, Podiceps occidentalis, P. cali- 

 fornicus, and Podilymbns podiceps; while along the streams were fonnd 

 ^gialitis vociferus and Cinclus mexicanus, with the addition of Tringoides 

 macularias after April 29. • 



12. Virginia City, Nevada, (January 5, 6, and June 10-20, 1868).— 

 Virginia City is situated on the southern slope of Mount Davidson, onp 

 of the highest peaks of the Virginia or Comstock range, about midway 

 between the base and summit of the mountain, at a total altitude of near 

 6,200 feet. The surrounding mountains are of an arid nature, the nearest 

 timber being the few cotton- woods along, the bank of the Carson River, 

 several miles distant. The birds observed in the town or its vicinity were 

 exceedingly few in number, those occurring during the breeding-sea.son 

 being ."Species which build their nests in caves, old buildings, or similar 

 l)laces. The most common species was the House Finch {Carpodacus 

 frontalis), which was abundant about all old buildings, even in the most 

 populous portions of the city; while the Rock Wren {Salpinc'.cs obsolctus) was 



