LOCAL AVIFAUN.13 OF TOE GREAT BASIN. 325 



7. Birds of the mountain-meadows or '■^parJis^ — On the hio-liev rano-es 

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

 or most varied vegetation of the entire region ; . especiall}^ is this the case 

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

 either side of the main stream, Avith jiine forests and snow-fields on the 

 higlier ridges and a copious volume of water in all the brooks and rivulets. 

 Plere the streams are bordered for their whole length with a, luxuriant 

 shrubbery, the bushes consisting of nunierous .species,. and overtopped here 

 and there by occasional trees of the narrow-leafed cotton-wood {Popubis 

 anr/KsfifoIia), sometimes of 50 or GO feet in height. The higher slopes are 

 densely matted with low but vigorous bushes of "laurel" (CeaiiofJiiis 

 velutiims, C. sorcdialns, and, in some ranges, Ardostaphnlos f/hinca), with 

 coriaceous, shining, deep- or dark-green foliage. The greater portion of 

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

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

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

 spikes or panicles of Liqnnus and Pcntstcmon, the orange-red bracts of 

 Castillcia, and the lovely scarlet blossoms of Gilia aggregaia are among the 

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

 while, in many localities, low bushes of Symphoricarpus monfainis are scat- 

 tered through the herbage. 



The birds most characteristic of these flowerj^ slopes are not numerous, 

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

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

 the most characteristic species : — 



1. Zonotricbia intermedia. ( Western ramjes.) 



2. Zonotrichia leucophrys. (Eastern ranges.) 



3. Passerella scbistacea. 



4. Pooecetes coufiuis. 



5. Melospiza liiicolni. 



G. Pipilo cliloruriis. 



7. Stellula calliope. 



S. Selasphorus platycercus. 



t). Troehilus alexaudri. 



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

 bright sward of "salt-grass" {Brisopyrum spicatum, var. strictim) of the low 

 river- valle}'s, the "bunch gi-ass" {Poa tcmiifolia and Eriocoma cuspidafa\ 

 scattered over the foot-hills, the patches of "rye-grass" {Elymus condensatusf) 



