352 OUNITITOLOGY. 



Avater issued from the ^villls at several places, and upon their borders the 

 vegetation was excessively luxuriant, in consequence of protection from 

 winds by their great distance below the genei'al surface of the desert, as well 

 as the constant moisture of the spot; this vegetation consisted chiefly of tall 

 tnir, rank grasses and sedges, and rose-briers. Elsewhere, the entire country 

 Avas a sandy waste, with a scant growth of the ordinary desert shrubs, 

 which within the walls of the lake were more thrifty than elsewhere. The 

 most abundant bird of this place was a very small, and clamorous, grebe 

 (perhaps Podiceps californicus), which kept out of gunshot from the shore; 

 next in numbers were the Avocets {Recurvirostm amcrkana), multitudes of 

 which ran along the beach, scooping up the dead insects which blackened 

 the water around the margin of the lake; mixed with these were a few Stilts 

 {Hiinantopus mexicanus). A few pairs of Gulls [Larus californicus), which 

 were nesting on a large rock away out in the lake, completed the list of 

 water-birds of this locality. Among the land-birds we noticed only the 

 Oreoscoptcs montanus,Ampltispi.za hillitcdfa, and a remarkable species, probably 

 Phocnopepla nitens, which we tried in vain to secure. 



A few rods distant was another somewhat similar, but smaller and 

 shallower, lake, where large numbers of Avocets and a few Stilts were 

 breeding on the numerous islands of borax in the shallow water. 



17. Sand Sjn-iiir/s Station (June 29, 18G8). — This locality is in the midst 

 of the desert, the country being extremely barren, with an iunncnse hill of 

 shifting sand near the station. Only the ordinary desert birds were found 

 here, the following being the species: Amphispiza bilineata, JEremopliila 

 (dpcstris, Corvus carnivonts, Zencedura caroUnrnsis, and Tthinognjplins aura. 



18. Fairview Valley (June 29, 1868). — This locality presented the usual 

 characteristics of a sage-brush valley, with no conspicuous or interesting- 

 features. The entire region was so dry that Avater for the use of the station 

 had to be hauled in wagons the distance of twelve miles. The only birds 

 observed were the following: Ampldspiza hiUncata, A. nevadensis, Chon- 

 destes grammaca, Ercmophila alpcstris, and Spcotijlo h/jpogrca. 



19. Edwards Crcch[Jw\Q 30, 18G8). — At this camp, where there was no 

 shrubbery along the stream other than a more thrifty growth of sage-brush 



