"iRm 1 Dawson, Birds of Okanogan Co., Wash. 



1897 



I«I 



138. Turdus ustulatus. Russet-backed Thrush. — Of uniform dis- 

 tribution in all wooded hollows. 



139. Turdus aonalaschkae. Dwarf Hermit Thrush. — A single pair 

 was found in a dense fir forest on a north slope, at an elevation of 4250 

 feet. 



140. Merula migratoria propinqua. Western Robin — Common, but 

 nowhere abundant. 



14:. Hesperocichlanaevia. VariedThrush. — A single straggler was 

 seen skulking in the low thorn bushes, which line the foot of the lake, in 

 earlj spring. It was, however, seen once again in midsummer in the 

 higher ranges, where it undoubtedly breeds. 



142. Sialia mexicana occidentalis. Western Bluebird. — Of irregular 

 occurrence. Ten birds, in a compact bunch, were sighted on the 9th of 

 March, and along through the middle of March numerous individuals 

 were seen mingling freely with Sialia arctica. A group of ten were seen 

 again on May i, but no more were noted during the season. 



143. Sialia arctica. Mountain Bluebird. — These exquisites, in their 

 quadruple-extract-of-azure garb, are justly ranked the topmost twig of the 

 American ornithological tree. They pass at their leisure through Chelan 

 and up the Columbia and Okanogan Rivers, in great flocks in the spring, 

 while a scattering few remain to breed. 



The following is a brief list of birds imperfectly identified or admitted 

 on inconclusive evidence. 



Hypothetical List. 



1. Larus occidentalis. Western Gull. — One of the Gulls seen on 

 Lake Chelan probably belongs to this species. I believe it might have 

 been found breeding, sparingly, four or five years ago. 



2. Larus Philadelphia. Bonaparte's Gull. — Either this bird or 

 Z,./>««^//«// appeared several times on Lake Chelan during Dec, 1895. 



3. Olor buccinator. Trumpeter Swan. — A pair seen at Wapato's in 

 the spring of 1896 could not with certainty be distinguished from O. colum- 

 bianiis. They are said to be not uncommon. 



4. Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. — Cranes are abundant during 

 migrations, and are said to breed in the northern part of the county, in the 

 'lime belt'. I had no opportunity to determine the species. Several 

 years ago an army of crickets invaded the country about Chelan, and 

 immediately large flocks of Cranes appeared, who at once devoted them- 

 selves to ridding the land of the pests. The Cranes are said to have 

 passed south following the march of the crickets. 



5. Tetanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellow-legs. — One bird 

 believed to be of this species was seen flying high over the Chelan River. 



6. Centrocercus urophasianus. Sage Grouse. — I have it on the 

 authority of Mr. G. M. Adams, of Virginia City, that 'Sage Hens' were 

 formerly found on the north bank of the Columbia River near his place. 



