1913] Orinnell—Swarth : Birds and Mammals of Sun Jacinto 3] t 



Strawberry Valley, Tahquitz Valley and Round Valley, blue- 

 birds were encountered in abundance during June and July. 

 In August numerous flocks were seen at Hemet Lake and on 

 Thomas Mountain. Young, slid in Juvenal plumage throughout, 

 were taken up to the middle of August. Adults and young col- 

 lected on Thomas Mountain during the third week in August 

 are in the midst of the fall molt. 



Fifty-one specimens were collected, as follows: Puller's Mill, 

 four (nos. 1883, 1884, L887, 1888), Poppet Flat, three (nos. 

 1885, 188(1. 1946), Schain's Ranch, twelve (nos. 1936-1945, 

 1!)47, 1948), Strawberry Valley, fourteen (nos. 2675 2688), Tah- 

 quitz Valley, one (no. 2759), Round Valley, five (nos. 2085, 

 L'ITt; -2178, 2264), Hemel Lake, three (nos. 2991 2993), Thomas 

 Mountain, three (nos. 3021-3023), Kenworthy, four (nos. 2266- 

 2269), Garnet Queen Mine, one (no. '2-W>~i > . Toro Peak, one (no. 

 2444). 



The bluebird of southern California has of late been con- 

 sidered by some writers to be the same as the Lower California 

 form. Sialia >n. anabelae, and we have therefore carefully scru- 

 tinized our series of specimens for verification of this belief. 

 No examples of true anabelai from the San Pedro Martir Moun- 

 tains are available: but the Museum contains extensive series of 

 breeding birds from the mountains of San Diego, Riverside, San 

 Bernardino and Los Angeles counties and the Sierra Nevada, 

 and small series from northern California, and from Vancouver 

 Island. Measurements and coloration of these various series 

 have been carefully compared, and the results do not seem to 

 justify the recognition of a race in southern California distinct 

 from <><■<■ i<l< a hi I is. 



Occidentalis, compared with <ni<th< l<t< . shows the following 

 characteristics: smaller size, with relatively smaller and more 

 slender bill; adult male with blue of a different shade and with 

 the chestnut areas of back and breast much more extensive. 



Of twenty-three breeding males from the San Jacinto Moun- 

 tains, twenty-one have the chestnut area on the breast extensive 

 and continuous; in two it is divided by a narrow line of blue. 

 Sixteen have the chestnut dorsal patch solid and extensive, and 

 seven have it divided by blue interscapulars. 



