354 ORNITHOLOGY. 



thalassinus (extremely abundant), Fulica americana, Erismatura rubida, Sterna 

 regia, and S. forsteri. This, however, is but a small proportion of the species 

 inhabiting these marshes, since without a boat we had no means of invading 

 tlio liaunts of the more wary kinds. On the 31st of October the same 

 place was again visited, and several birds not seen during our summer 

 stay were noted. Crows {Corvus americanus) were walking about the 

 door-yard with the familiarity of domesticated birds ; a Falcon {Faico pohj- 

 agrus) was seen to dash into a flock of tame pigeons belonging to the station, 

 while from an Indian wo obtained the fresh skin of a Lesser Suow-Goose 

 (Anser albatus). 



21. Humboldt River, at Oreana (August 30-September 3. Altitude, 

 4,036 feet). — At this place the valley of the Humboldt was, as usual, destitute 

 of trees, the only woody vegetation near the river being the thick clumps 

 of small willows on the points and around the sloughs. The greater por- 

 tion of the valley consisted of meadows of salt-grass, but back toward the 

 mesa this gradually gave way to an unusually tall and vigorous growth of 

 grease-wood and sage-brush. In the latter, the most common bird was the 

 Oreoscoptes montanus, another abundant species being Amphispiza nevaden- 

 sis; on the meadows, Xanthocephalus icterocephalus, Molothrus ater, Agelteus 

 phoenicetts, and Sturnella negleda; in the willows, Melospiza fallax, Den- 

 droica cestiva, Vireosylvia suminsoni, and Collurio cxcubitoroides ; Swallows, 

 particularly U. horreoruni, were common in the air, while large flocks of the 

 Green Ibis, or "Black Curlew" {Falcinellus thalassinus), were almost con- 

 stantly passing up and down the river, now and then alighting to feed for 

 awhile in a slough hidden among the willows. This camp was finally aban- 

 doned on account of a severe foim of malarial fever having attacked nearly 

 the entire party, the disease having been contracted at our previous camp — 

 the Humboldt marshes. 



22. Wrighfs Cafion, WeM Humboldt Mountains (September 3-13, 

 1867. Altitude, 4,881 /ee<).— Wright's Canon was supplied with a brook, 

 which, though of considerable volume during the rainy season, was inter- 

 mittent through the dry summer months. The water ran briskly at 

 iiight and in the cool hours of morn and evening, but during the hotter 



