366 Ray, A Third Trip to the High Sierras. [^, k 



with heavy foliage. Almost everyone remarks the song of the 

 Hermit, — gay, loud and far reaching; only an ornithologist, 

 perhaps, would hear that of the Russet-back, — sad. subdued and 

 mysterious. While the song of the Russet-back is far less loud 

 than that of its rival yet, being more ventriloquial, it can be heard 

 equally as far away. In the fading light, when most other birds 

 are silent, these two peerless singers hold forth, and the effect is 

 further enhanced by the beauty of the Sierran woodland and the 

 stillness of the twilight hour. 



During my stay at Phillip's Station I made the following list of 

 species, which refers to this trip only. The summit here is not 

 very extensive, being walled to the north and south by the higher 

 mountain ridges. The elevation, 7500 feet, is about the same as 

 that of the great Pyramid Peak Plateau. 



List of Species. 



1. Oreortyx pictus plumiferus. Mountain Partridge. — Common, 

 breeding, but no nests were located. 



2. Dendragapus obscurus sierrae. Sierra Grouse. — One seen, as 

 noted above, and a few heard. 



3. Accipiter velox rufilatus. Western Sharp-shinned Hawk. — Seen 

 several times. 



4. Dryobates villosus hyloscopus. Cabanis Woodpecker. — Rather 

 abundant ; one nest found, as previously stated. 



5. Colaptes cafer collaris. Red-shafted Flicker. — Rather abun- 

 dant ; one nest found, as already noted. 



6. Selasphorus rufus. Rufous Hummingbird. — A few seen. 



7. Nuttallornis borealis. Olive-sided Flycatcher. — More often 

 heard than seen. 



8. Contopus richardsoni richardsoni. Western Wood Pewee. — 

 Rather common. 



9. Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis. Blue-fronted Jay. — Very scarce this 

 year, for some reason. 



10. Carpodacus cassini. Cassin Purple Finch. — Common. 



11. Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys. White-crowned Sparrow. 

 — Common; one newly built nest found on the ground in a meadow. 



12. Spizella socialis arizonae. Western Chipping Sparrow. — Com- 

 mon ; just beginning to build ; one nest with one egg noted. 



13. Junco hyemalis thurberi. Sierra Junco. — Common. 



14. Passerella iliaca megarhyncha. Thick-billed Sparrow. — A few 

 heard on the western edge of the summit. 



