DKSClUrTIUN OF CAMPS. 343 



Besides the laiid-bircls marked as abundant in the above hst, the other 

 more characteristic winter residents were AmpJiispiza nevadensis, Mehspiza 

 ]ic('n)Hn/}/i, and ripUo orcgonns. Turdus migratorius, Troglodytes parkmanni, 

 Ceriilc (iJri/on, Nettion caroUnensis, and Mareca americana were also among 

 the winter residents. 



7. Isl(nnh of Pymmld Laic (August, 18G7, and May, 18G8).— Tlie two 

 ishxnds investigated ornithologieally are the main ishxnd and tlie one knoAvn 

 as "The Pyramid," from the hitter of which the hike receives its name. 

 Tlie former is about ten miles distant from the mouth of the Truckee River 

 and about two miles from the nearest point on the eastern shore. Its shores 

 are, for the most part, abrupt and precipitous, though not high, there being 

 but two convenient landing-places, each a pointed beach of sand extending 

 far out into the water. The island is about three miles in circuit, while In the 

 middle it rises into two bold peaks, each about five hundred feet in height. 

 In May, 1868, w^e found the limited shore near the southern beacli thickly 

 covered with remarkably large grease-wood bushes, on the top of each of 

 which, at the height of about five feet from the ground, was the immense, 

 elaborate nest of a pair of Great Blue Herons (Ardea lierodias). Not a 

 hundred yards distant. In an oven-like recess in the fiice of the precipitous 

 rock forming the shore, and inaccessible, was the deserted eyrie of a Bald 

 Eagle {Ealiaetm leiicocephcdus); on the elevated portion of the northern 

 beach several hundreds of Pelicans {P. erythrorhjnclms) were breeding; 

 on a rocky plateau between the northern peak and the shore an Immense 

 colony of Gulls (Lants cnlifoniicas) had their nests, while swarms of 

 Violet-green Swallows {Tachydncta Ui(dassma) were passing into and out 

 of the crevices of the high cliffs near by. "The Pyramid" Is close to the 

 eastern shore, and appears as a huge rock of very regular pyramidal shape, 

 rising about tln-ee hundred feet above the surface of the lake. Its base 

 is a nearly perfect triangle, each side being a sheer precipice from the 

 water to the height of a hundred and fifty feet, while only one of the three 

 corners was found to be easily accessible from the boat. Tempted by the 

 sight of numerous nests near the top, among them being one belonging to a 

 pair of Falcons {F. ncevius), which flew, clamoring, around, we ascended this 

 corner, and, after a careful climb without looking about, reached the almost 



