Vol. XXII 

 1905 



Grinnell, Summer Birds of Mount Pinos, Cal. 3^^ 



29. Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis (Ridgway). Blue-fronted Jay. — 

 Blue-fronted Jays were moderately common all over the mountain above 

 6000 feet. Adults and full-grown young, as is usually the case, gathered 

 about our camp in Seymour Cafion, quietly pilfering whatever they took 

 a notion to, including our soap. The specimens secured are typical of 

 the Sierran form, showing no tendency whatever toward carbonacea of 

 the coast belt further north. 



30. Aphelocoma californica californica ( I T ig> >rs). California Jay. — 

 This jay was a characteristic bird of the piiion belt, below 6000 -feet. 

 Above this it was not seen excepting once : In a little valley at nearly 

 8500 feet, on the southeast exposure of the mountain, several California 

 Jays were noted on July 1 1. 



31. Nucifraga columbiana ( Wilson). Clark Nutcracker. — Adults 

 and full-grown young were abundant about the summit of Mount Pinos, 

 particularly in the fir belt. Below this they were occasionally seen down 

 to 6500 feet, and several were met with even in the pifions at 5500 feet. 

 Nutcrackers were by far the most conspicuous of the mountain birds, 

 both on account of their penetrating voices, and on account of their 

 strikingly contrasted black and white wing-markings, which render the 

 birds in flight plainly seen against most any background. 



32. Sturnella neglecta Audubon. Western MEADOWLARK. — A fam- 

 ily of adults and nearly full-fledged young had their headquarters at 

 Seymour Meadow, 5500 feet. 



33. Icterus bullocki (S-wainson). Bullock Oriole. — Several adults 

 and young were noted in the golden oaks and rose thickets about Sey- 

 mour Meadow, 5500 feet. 



34. Euphagus cyanocephalus {Wagler). Brewer Blackbird. — A 

 small tlock was seen several times at Seymour Meadow, 5500 feet, where 

 thev were voraciously feeding on grasshoppers. 



35. Carpodacus cassini Baird. Cassin Purple Finch. — The Cassin 

 Purple Finch was present in numbers all over the mountain, from 6500 

 feet in Seymour Cafion to the summit. The birds were particularly 

 noticeable in the Jeffrey pine woods at 7000-8000 feet elevation. Here 

 they were to be seen feeding on the ground in pairs or small companies, 

 which would take to the lofty tree-tops when disturbed. Half-fledged 

 young were noted on June 29. 



36. Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis [Say). House Finch. — Avery 

 tew linnets were in constant attendance at Seymour Meadow, 5500 feet. 

 Much to our surprise, on July 1 1, we encountered a large flock of House 

 Finches, both old and full-grown young, in a small valley on the south- 

 east side of the mountain at nearly 8500 feet. These we concluded had 

 wandered up since the nesting season from a much lower altitude. 



37. Loxia curvirostra bendirei Ridgviay. Sierra Crossbill. — I sev- 

 eral times thought I saw crossbills among the taller tree-tops. But the 

 close similarity in general appearance and behavior at a distance to the 

 Cassin Purple Finch, rendered identification uncertain in all cases but 



