Vol. XX-| j^ /.«;/</ Birds of Lake. Valley, Col. l8l 



1903 J ' J -" X V^ i 



though hilly adjacent to the mountain sides. It presents six dis- 

 tinct types of country. 



(i.) The major portion is sandy, more or less thickly wooded 

 with pine, tamarack, sagebrush and the broad-leaved wild sun- 

 flower. The majority of the timber on the eastern half is second 

 growth. 



(2.) There are also large areas of fertile grassy meatlows along 

 the numerous streams whose banks are fringed with willow, aspen 

 and other trees. 



(3.) At the mouth of the Little Truckee River, called Row- 

 lands, is a marsh extending about three miles along the lake shore 

 and from one to three miles inland. The above three types of 

 country lie in the Transition Zone. 



(4.) Portions of the hillsides are very rocky, sparsely wooded, 

 but thickly covered with the thorny buck brush, manzanita, and 

 wild beach. This district lies in the Canadian Zone. 



(5.) On the mountain sides are dense forests of massive firs, 

 balsam, pine, and tamarack. Picturesque lakes, rushing torrents, 

 and foaming waterfalls characterize this portion of the country, 

 the lower part of which belongs to the Canadian Zone, and above 

 8000 feet to the Hudsonian Zone. 



(6.) The last type is the barren rocky areas above the timber 

 line on the various mountain peaks, or the Alpine Zone. 



The principal points of the region are : 



Altitude. 



Lakeside (State Line) 6220 



Bijou (P. O.) 2 miles west of Lakeside, on lake shore . . 6220 



Rowlands, 4 •" " " " " '< " . . 6220 



Tallac (P. O.) 7 " " " " " " " . . 6220 



Glen Alpine, 14 " " " " a rocky gorge . . 6700 



Sierra House, 2.V miles southeast of Lakeside, in Lake Valley 6300 



Meyer's Station, 7 " south " " " " " 6400 



Summit, 12 " southwest" " on the ridge 7600 



Phillip's Station 14 " " " " " " " 6900 



The weather in the valley is erratic. In summer magnificent 

 thunderstorms, followed by a downpour of rain, hail, and occasion- 

 ally light snow, are common while in a few hours the sun will be 

 shining and the sky clear. The climate in general, however, is 

 cold in the morning and evening and rather warm at midday. 



Bird life in general is varied and numerous, in striking contrast 



