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University of California Publications in Zoology [VOL. 16 



. BLUE MOUNTAIN FAUNAL AREA AND FAUNA 



Habitats and Associations: 



Rocky-slope. Lowland-fir. 



Yellow-pine. 



Buckbrush. 



Alpine-fir. 



Water-margin. 



Aquatic. 



Aerial. 



The Blue Mountain area is characterized by the dominance of 

 conifer forests of several kinds. In the bottoms of the canons the 

 forest is often very heavy and is dominated by the lowland fir (Abies 

 grandis). On the tops of the higher ridges the alpine fir (Abies lasio- 

 carpa) is the dominant type of tree. On the lower ridges and slopes 

 and in the valleys of the more arid parts of the mountains the open 

 yellow-pine type of forest prevails. It has been very difficult to de- 

 termine the relation of the species of vertebrates to the different kinds 

 of conifer forest. There seems to be a restriction of certain species to 

 the higher ridges and of others to the canons, but no species seems to 

 be clearly limited to any particular type of forest. It will require a 

 very considerable amount of further study before the distribution of 

 the vertebrates in the area is at all satisfactorily known. 



The Blue Mountains are at the present time only partially covered 

 by forests. Many of the steep, rocky slopes are nearly or quite bare of 

 timber. Also, much of the region has been burned over, destroying the 

 forests. Following the fires, or in some cases starting on bare slopes 

 where probably no fire has been, there have sprung up extensive 

 growths of deciduous brush. This brush is best developed near the 

 summits of the ridges, but extends down the slopes for considerable 

 distances, reaching the bottoms of the canons at the heads of a number 

 of streams. 



SPECIES CHARACTERISTIC OP THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FAUNA 



Rana pretiosa. 

 Charina bottae. 



Dendrapagus obscurus richardsoni. 

 Picoides americanus dorsalis. 

 Sphyrapicus thyroideus. 

 Phloeotomus pileatus picinus. 

 Stellula calliope. 

 Empidonax hammondi. 

 Perisoreus canadensis capitalis. 

 Nucifraga columbiana. 

 Junco hyemalis shufeldti. 

 Dendroica townsendi. 



Cinclus mexicana unicolor. 

 Nannus hiemalis pacificus. 

 Sitta pygmaea pygmaea. 

 Penthestes gambeli gambeli. 

 Eegulus satrapa olivaceus. 

 Myadestes townsendi. 

 Neosorex navigator navigator. 

 Myotis longicrus. 

 Ursus altifrontalis. 

 Vulpes macrourus. 

 Martes sp. 

 Mustela cicognanii lepta. 



