292 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Peoc. 4th Se«. 



about 1750 feet, with the flora changing on the mountain 

 sides as the altitude increases. 



Here again was a most attractive looking spot for bird life 

 but, except around the houses, there were few birds in evi- 

 dence. In the trees near the buildings some Northern Violet- 

 green Swallows (Tachycineta thalassina lepida), California 

 Woodpecker {Melanerpes formicivora hairdi), Slender-billed 

 Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis aculeata), the ubiquitous (all 

 through this country, at least). Western Robin {Planesticus 

 migratorius propinquus), and a few other common species, 

 were nesting or feeding their young just out of the nest. And 

 again, away up here in the brush country, were a few red- 

 winged blackbirds. Only one was secured, which is very close 

 to the Bicolored Redwing (Agelaius phoeniceus californicus) 

 of San Joaquin County. 



We were disappointed in the matter of obtaining horses for 

 a trip to the summit of Snow Mountain, and had to abandon 

 the idea of reaching that point, so while my brother and I 

 prospected the lower levels, on June 2, Little went up on Goat 

 Mountain to an altitude of something like 4500 feet. He did 

 not come across any fox sparrows nor any brush suitable for 

 them, but the Yolla Bolly has been taken on Snow Mountain, 

 for Dr. Joseph Grinnell tells me he has seen specimens from 

 that point. Poor-wills were heard in the dusk of evening 

 and some were called down into open spots, but guests of the 

 place wandering about prevented our securing any for identi- 

 fication. However, there is no reason to suppose that they 

 were anything else than the Dusky Poor-will (Phalcenoptilus 

 nuttalli californicus). 



Our stay here was shortened by this absence of saddle 

 horses and we left on June 3, intending to stop at some place 

 on the way back if conditions seemed to warrant. The prin- 

 cipal incident of the morning was the taking of a nest of 

 Bell's Sparrow {Amphispiza belli) at the summit of the toll 

 road between Bartlett Springs and Upper Lake. From time 

 to time along the road we had been stopping to look about 

 for birds and listen for their notes, and on this occasion had 

 come out of the forest on to a sort of saddle, or V-shaped gap, 

 where the road suddenly shifted from the north side of the 

 range to the south side, and out of the timber into chamisal 

 brush. Not a bird was to be seen, but on taking a few steps 



