354 ORNITHOLOGY. 



thalassinus (extremely abundant), Fulica americana, Erismatura rubida, Sterna 

 regia, and S. forsteri. This, however, is but a small proportion of the species 

 inhabiting these marshes, since without a boat we had no means of invading- 

 the haunts of the more wary kinds. On the 31st of October the same 

 place was again visited, and several birds not seen during our summer 

 stay were noted. Crows {Corvus americanus) were walking about the 

 door-yard with the familiarity of domesticated birds ; a Falcon {Falco ]}ohj- 

 agrus) was seen to dash into a flock of tame pigeons belonging to the station, 

 while from an Indian we obtained the fresh skin of a Lesser Snow-Goose 

 [Anser albatus). 



21. Humboldt River, at Oreana (August 30-September 3. Altitude, 

 4,036 feet). — At this place the valley of the Humboldt was, as usual, destitute 

 of trees, the only woody vegetation near the river being the thick clumps 

 of small willows on the points and around the sloughs. The greater por- 

 tion of the valley consisted of meadows of salt-grass, but back toward the 

 mesa this gradually gave way to an unusually tall and vigorous growth of 

 grease-wood and sage-brush. In the latter, the most common bird was the 

 Oreoscoptes montanns, another abundant species being Ampliispiza nevaden- 

 sis; on the meadows, Xanthocephalus icterocephalus, Molothrus ater, Agelccus 

 phoenicetts, and Sturnella neglecta; in the willows, Melospiza fallaoc, Den- 

 droeca cBstiva, Vireosylvia swainsoni, and Collurio excubitoroides ; Swallows, 

 particularly H. horreorum, were common in the air, while large flocks of the 

 Green Ibis, or " Black Curlew" {Falcinelltis thalassinus), were almost con- 

 stantly passing up and down the river, now and then alighting to feed for 

 awhile in a slough hidden among the willows. This camp was finally aban- 

 doned on account of a severe form of malarial fever having attacked nearly 

 the entire party, the disease having been contracted at our previous camp — 

 the Humboldt marshes. 



22. Wriglifs Canon, West Humboldt Mountains (September 3-13, 

 1867. Altitude, 4,881 feet). — Wright's Canon was supplied with a brook, 

 which, though of considerable volume during the rainy season, was inter- 

 mittent through the dry summer months. The water ran briskly at 

 night and in the cool hours of morn and evening, but during the hotter 



