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



feathers and down. The nest measured seven inches across and 

 was photographed. 



On my first visit to Lake Valley, in 1901, I found, on June 11, 

 on the shore of Rowlands Marsh, in a pine stump, a nest of the 

 Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana occidentals) with five nearly 

 fresh eggs. The parents being close at hand identification was 

 made sure and as such I listed them in 'The Osprey ' (Vol. V, 

 No. 8). On my return to Lake Valley the following year I failed 

 to find this species, which rather puzzled me, and I listed only the 

 Mountain Bluebird {Sialia arctica) in my 'Land Birds of Lake 

 Valley ' (Auk, Vol. XX, No. 2). This year, however, I solved 

 the puzzle. Sialia mexicana occidentalis occurs here but sparingly, 

 being about one third as abundant as Sialia arctica, and, strange 

 to say, does not frequent the habitations like the latter but nests 

 deep in the woods, and well up on the mountain sides. It was in 

 the latter location that I found a nest to-day, and intend to return 

 to-morrow to collect the set with parent. 



June ij. — I revisited the nest of the Western Bluebird (Sialia 

 mexicana occidentalis) to-day and collected the eggs and male 

 parent. The cavity, which was six feet up in a pine stump, was 

 lined with the usual substances, and held six half-incubated eggs. 

 This nest was located on the side of the mountain, about a mile 

 southeast of Edgewood, which lies just over the state-line in 

 Nevada. 



On the way back considerable commotion about a nest of the 

 Mountain Bluebird (Sialia arctica) in a tall dead tamarack 

 attracted my attention. A chipmunk, intentionally or otherwise, 

 had wandered up the tree trunk in close proximity to the nest- 

 hole, and the angry owners, with bills and claws free, were giving 

 him a grilling, while the chipmunk, needing his claws to cling to 

 the bark, was helpless and forced to make an ignominious retreat. 

 While the depredations on bird-life by this animal are said by 

 some writers to be considerable, I am of the opinion that little 

 harm is done to the bluebird family, who seem well able to pro- 

 tect their homes against this pest. 



June 18. — To-day I rowed from Bijou to Rowlands Marsh, 

 about two miles distant. Off shore at the latter place, in cavities 

 in piles projecting above deep water, I found two nests of the 



