DESCRIPTION OF CAMrS. 349 



Ilhinogrypbus aura {ercri/icJtrrc) April 2. 



Hiruiido horreorum (dhout bnrnn) . April 8. 



Spizella breweri (.srtc/e brush) April 0. 



Stelgidopteryx serripeuiiis [ravine hanls) . . . , April 15. 



Progne snbis {about buildim/n) April 23. 



ZeuiBclura caroliuensis (evcrtiwhcre) April 23. 



Oboudestes grammaca [sage-brush] . May 3. 



Petrochelidon luiiifrons [about barns) May 4. 



d. Valh'i/ of Carson Ix'inr. 

 The prominent characteristics of the valley 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: Tiinhis 

 migratorlus, Rcgulus calendula, Cerfhia americana, Troglodi/tes parhniatmi, T. 

 hyemaUs, Dendroica andiihoni, Zonotrichia intermedia, Melospiza heernianni, 

 Passerella schistacca, Fipilo orcgonus, Pica hudsonica, Picus harrid, Colaptes 

 mexicanus, and Otus ivilsonianus. The marshes were inhabited by TeJma- 

 todytcs paludicola, Melospiza heermanni, Circus Jmdsonius, and BofanrHS minor. 

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

 hoschas, Agtluja americana, A. valUsncria, Bucephala americana, B. (dbeola, 

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

 fornicus, and PodUijmhns podiceps; while along the streams were found 

 .^gialitis vociferus and Cinchts mexicaniis, with the addition of Trii/goides 

 maeidarins after K\m\ 29. 



. 12. Virginia Cifg, Ncrada, (January 5, G, and June 10-20, 1SG8). — 

 Virginia City is situated on the southern slope of Mount David.son, one 

 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-season 

 being species which build their nests in caves, old buildings, or similar 

 places. 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 {Salpinctcs ohsolctus) was 



