590 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE 



but do not seem to go to the upper limit of forest trees. Our highest record 

 for them is 9200 feet on Warren Fork of Leevining Creek, and they are 

 seldom encountered above 8600 feet. 



The Ruby-crowned Kinglets leave the higher parts of the mountains 

 (above the Transition Zone) in the fall, our latest records being for upper 

 Yosemite Creek, October 6, 1915, and for Gentrys, October 23, 1915 (one 

 bird). In the winter months the Ruby-crown deserts almost entirely even 

 the Transition Zone; a single entry for Yosemite Valley on December 22, 

 1914, is our notation of the only exception to this statement. In 1920, 

 however, Mr. C. W. Michael (MS) recorded the species in the Valley as 

 common, and observed almost daily, from October 20 up until Decem- 

 ber 30. The species is in that season common in the foothill and valley 

 country to the west, having been found by us in numbers at El Portal, 

 Pleasant Valley, Lagrange, and Snelling. At the end of April (28 to 30) 

 in 1916 Ruby-crowns were common once more in Yosemite Valley. East 

 of the mountains near Williams Butte the first for that season were noted 

 on April 29. 



The population in the Canadian Zone during early summer is such 

 that an observer will see or hear from two to four birds, usually the higher 

 number, per hour of observation. In either the Hudsonian or Transition 

 Zone this number will at least be halved. At Porcupine Flat 17 Ruby- 

 crowns were noted in 5 hours on June 27, 1915 ; in Yosemite Valley 7 in 

 4 hours and 6 in 3i^ hours were noted on two days at the end of April, 

 1916. The winter population in the foothills is denser than that in any 

 part of the summer range. Twelve of these birds were recorded in 21/2 

 hours at Snelling on January 6, 1915, and 8 in the same space of time at- 

 Sweetwater Creek on October 28, 1915. Early in the winter of 1914 

 Ruby-crowned Kinglets were exceedingly abundant at El Portal. About 

 25 were listed there in 3 hours on November 23 ; 3 to 5 individuals were 

 observed in a single tree at one time. 



Both of our kinglets are busy birds at all times, but the Ruby-crown 

 shows even more activity than does its relative. Its temperament is of the 

 high-strung or nervoiLs sort, which keeps the bird constantly on the go — in 

 decided contrast to the phlegmatic behavior of, for instance, the Hutton 

 Vireo. The kinglet has relatively long legs, and standing up on these 

 its body is kept well clear of any perch so that the bird can hop or turn 

 readily in any direction. Such twists and jumps are often assisted by 

 fluttering movements of the wings. Not infrequently a Ruby-crowned 

 Kinglet will poise on rapidly moving wings while it picks off an insect 

 from some leaf not to be reached from a foothold. In routine foraging 

 the bird moves through the foliage rapidly, peering this way and that as 

 it goes, spending but a moment in any one spot or pose. 



