392 ORNITHOLOGY. 



the Sierra Nevada, where the first huUviduals of the species were noiiced 

 among the scattered pines which formed the outposts of the continuous 

 forest of the mountains. From the Sierra Nevada eastward, however, it 

 was continually met with in all wooded localities, the aspen groves of the 

 higher canons being its favorite resort during the summer, while in winter 

 it descended to the lower valleys, and passed the season among the willows 

 or cotton-woods and attendant shrubbery along the streams. In the vicinity 

 of Carson City it was extremely abundant from the middle of March until 

 the middle of April, and assembled in large flocks among the scriibby 

 thickets of dwarf-plum buslies along the base of the Sierra. In August 

 they were quite plentiful in the valley of the Truckee, below the "Big Bend," 

 being attracted thither by the abundance of fruit of the buffalo-berry bushes 

 {Shephcrdia argcntea), which at this time formed an important portion of their 

 food ; and later in the season they were observed feeding on service-berries 

 (tlie fruit of AmelancMer canadensis) along the foot-hills of the eastern ranges. 

 In their manners and notes we could not detect the minutest difference 

 between the western and eastern Roliins, although climatic or other 

 geographical influences have perceptibly modified their plumage.' In all 

 respects it seems the same bird, the song and other notes being identical. 



tious, No. 3, U. S. Geological Survey of the Territories, F. V. Hiiyileu, U. S. Geologist- 

 in charge. Washingtou: Goveraraent Priutiug Office, 1874. 



(8.) "Cooper, Orn. Gal., [."—[Reports Geological Survey of California. J. D. 

 Wbituey, State Geologist.] Ornithology. Vol. I. Laud Birds. Edited by S. F. Baird, 

 from tlie manuscript aud notes of J. G. Cooper. Published by authority of the Legis- 

 lature. Cambridge: [Printed by Welch, Bigelow &"Co.,] 1870. 



(9.) "Henshaw, 1875.''— Report upon Geographical and Geological Explorations 

 and Surveys west of the One Hundredth Meridian, iu charge of First Lieut. Geo. M. 

 Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army [etc]. Chapter III, Vol. V.— Zoology. 

 Washington : Government Printing Office, 1875. 



[Note. — In the History of North American Birds, Birds of the N'orthtcest,'tiud 

 other recent publications, occasional reference is made to a " Zoology of the -lOth 

 Parallel [in press]," or " Rep. 40th Parallel [in press]." It is to be understood that 

 these citations do not apply to the present report, but to the original one, stereotyped 

 in 1870, but suppressed on account of unavoidable delay in its publication. In its 

 present form the report is substantially the same, but the changes necessary to bring 

 it up to date render the citations of pages and names frequently inapplicable.] 



•The western birds of this species may be distinguished as a geographical race, 

 for which the name Tardus migratorius propinqiius, Ridgway, is proposed. See [Bulle- 

 tin of the Nuttall Ornitholofjical Club, Vol. II, January, 1877, p. 0.] 



