DESCUIPTION OF CAMPS. 363 



28. Secret Valley, East Ilumholdt Mountains (September 6-8, 1868). — 

 Secret Valley is a small park nestled among high hills, with the East Hum- 

 boldt Mt>untains proper on the west, and the equally lofty portion of that 

 range known as the "Clover Mountains" to the eastward. The higher 

 sloi)es of this valley, especially near the sources of the streams, were clothed 

 with by far the most varied and extensive vegetation we had yet seen east 

 of the Sierra Nevada. The aspens along the streams were from 40 to 70 

 feet high, some of them being 1^ to 2 feet hi diameter; while in places 

 they were so numerous as to form considerable groves. Accompanying 

 these aspens, were dense thickets of varied and luxuriant shrubbery, tall 

 alders and willows predominating in the swampy spots, while the slopes 

 were covered with a nearly impenetrable growth of " laurel " bushes (Cean- 

 othus velutinus). On the ridges the mountain mahogany formed groves, 

 while in the lower valleys Amelanchier canadensis, or service berry, grew in 

 great abundance, furnishing food for many species of birds. The birds 

 observed at this place were the following : Among the aspens, Melanerpes 

 torquatits, Colaptes mexicanus, Timlus migratorius, Chrysomitris pinus, Loxia 

 amerkana, L. leacoptera, Contopus rkhardsoni, and Empidonax hammondl In 

 the shrubbery along the streams, SeJasphoriis ri<fHS[l\ S. platyccrcus, Tiirdus 

 swainsoni, Tmulodytes parhnanni, GeotMypis <ric/ias (lower portions), G. mac- 

 (jillirrayi, Myiodioctes pusiUus, Dendrwca cestiva, D. toivnsendi, Empidonax 

 hanimondi, Ilelminthophaga ruficapiUa, H. lutescens, H. celata, Vireosylvia 

 swainsoni, Chrysomitris tristis, Melospiza fallax, Zonotrkhia intermedia, Cyan- 

 ospiza amcena, and Pipilo chlorurus. In the sage-brush, Oreoscoptes montanus, ^ 

 Co'lurio excubitoroides, Eremophila alpestris, Pooecetes confinis, Chondestes 

 grammaca, Spizella breweri, Sturnella neglecta, Zenmlura carolinensis, and 

 Centrocercus urophasianus. Among the mahoganies, Empidonax obscurus 

 was the most common species. Salpinctes ohsoletus was found in all rocky 

 ])laces, ])articularly on the ridges; a single individual of Ceryle alcyon 

 was seen along the brook, while Corvus carnivorus, Butco calurm, Circus 

 hudsoniiis, and Falco pohjagrus were species of irregular distribution. 



29. Dearings Ranche, Upper Humboldt Valley (September 10-14). — 

 After cro-ssing the Kast Humboldt range through the pass called Secret 



