3«: 



Grinnell, Summer Birds of Mount Pinos, Cat. \ c^t 



— Around Seymour Creek Meadow, at about 5500 feet elevation, a few, not 

 more than a dozen, Valley Quail had their rendezvous. The species was 

 seen at only one other place in the region, in a small valley on the south- 

 east flank of Mount Pinos, at nearly 8500 feet. Mere among the pines, in 

 company with the prevailing Transition birds, a small band of Valley 

 Quail was met with once, July II. They were in some Symphoricarpus 

 brush by a little cienega where Mountain Quail were often seen. 



3. Dendragapus obscurus sierrae Chapman. Sierra Grouse. — We 

 were told of the frequent capture of grouse in the pines down even as 

 low as the sawmill. But this had been in winter when the snow makes it 

 easier to see them. We saw grouse signs only among the firs on the 

 north side. There in dry loose soil under drooping fir branches were 

 dust-wallows and characteristic feathers. There must have been quite a 

 number around though we actually saw but two, an old female with a 

 half-grown young one. These were perched on fir boughs, and when ap- 

 proached the old bird kept clucking loudly until the youngster took flight, 

 when both would swing down the mountain side into the dense woods out 

 of sight. This constitutes the southernmost record-station for the Sierra 

 Grouse. 



4. Columba fasciata Say. Hand-tailed Pigeon. — We estimated that 

 fully twenty pairs of pigeons were at home about the summit of Mount 

 Pinos. During the day they were evidently feeding mainly in the Jeffrey 

 pines on the south side of the mountain. For at night just at dusk, they 

 would come flying over the peak, singly and in small parties, alighting 

 down among the dense tirs on the north slope. Their deep monotonous 

 coo'-coo, coo'-coo, coo'-oo, or tuck-oo', tuck-oo 1 was a frequent sound at this 

 place, and I have no doubt the birds had nests in the vicinity, though we 

 saw no young. The crop of the single pigeon shot contained nothing 

 but pine seeds. 



:;. Zenaidura macroura {Linnaeus), MOURNING Dove. — Doves were 

 frequently seen below 6500 feet, mostly about watering places, which they 

 visited, as usual, in pairs. 



6. Gymnogyps californianus (SAaw dc N odder). California Vul- 

 ture. — The ranchers and stockmen interviewed said that Condors were 

 of common occurrence in the vicinity. I saw a single individual twice 

 flying over the summit of Mount Pinos. The conspicuous white patches 

 on the under side of the wings render this bird the easiest of any of our 

 larger species to identify in full flight at any considerable distance. 



7. Cathartes aura {Linnceus). Turkey Vulture. — Just one Turkey 

 Buzzard was seen anywhere in the region. This bird was flying over 

 Seymour meadow, 5500 feet. 



8. Accipiter cooperi {Bonaparte). Cooper Hawk. — Seen but twice, 

 on the mountain sides among the Jeffrey pines. 



9. Buteo borealis calurus {Cassin). Western Red-tail. — A single 

 Red-tail was seen circling above Mount Pinos. 



10. Buteo swainsoni Bonaparte. SwAlNSON Hawk. — A pair of this 



