1-913 | Orinnell—Swarth : Birds and Mammals of San Jacinto 291 



extensive areas grown up with willow and guatemote ( Baccharis 

 glutinosa) formed their habitat. They were also common along 

 the north base of the mountain, a1 Snow Creek, Cabezon and 

 Banning, but only at the mouths of the canons. Found but once 

 on the west slope of the range, along the San Jacinto River road 

 at 2000 feet, where several were seen or heard singing on .May 1!). 



A nest was found at the canon mouth near Cabezon, which, 

 on .May 20, contained three newly hatched young. 



Ten specimens of the least vireo were preserved: Cabezon, 

 three (nos. 1738-1740), Palm ('anon, seven (nos. 3069 3075 . 



Vireo vicinior ( !oues 



l! ray Vireo 



This was probably the most important single species of bird 

 discovered in the San Jacinto region, because previously little 

 known as a bird of California. This vireo proved to be numerous 

 in a very definite division of the Upper Sonoran zone chiefly on 

 the Pacific side of the mountains. The distribution of Vireo 

 vicinior is capable of more exact definition than is usually the 

 case with birds. It is. namely: the Adenostoma minor association. 

 of the Chaparral major association, of the San Diegan fauna! 

 division, of the Upper Sonoran /one. 



To recount in detail the localities of occurrence: we first 

 met with the species as we entered the region May 19, on the 

 road up San Jacinto canon, at about 3000 feet altitude. With 

 little doubt a pair were nesting at this point. This was the 

 westernmost record station. On the brushy slopes below Straw- 

 berry Valley towards lionet Valley, 4500 to 5000 feet, and on 

 the opposite lower slopes of Thomas Mountain at about the same 

 altitudes, the presence of the species was repeatedly detected. 

 In the vicinity of Kenworthy, chiefly to the northeast, from 

 4500 to fully 6500 feet altitude, up over the Hemet Peak ridge, 

 and thence down to the 3000 foot contour towards the head of 

 Palm Canon, the gray vireo was perhaps fully as conspicuous a 

 member of the Chaparral association as the western gnatcatcher 

 or black-chinned sparrow. 



Crossing Palm Canon, one individual was noted on a ridge 

 at 4'_ ) ()() feet near Potrero Spring and north of Asbestos Moun- 



