Vol. X.] MAILLIARD— BIRDS, MAMMALS OF SISKIYOU COUNTY 85 



from a large rock just above it. The altitude here is nearly 

 4000 feet. 



The cabin was beside what was usually a large spring, ordi- 

 narily making swampy ground of the hillside, but which was 

 sadly reduced in size in this dry year. Through the day, from 

 time to time, some birds came here to obtain water, yet the total 

 number was comparatively small, and the species the usual 

 Sierran forms, as may be gathered from the appended table 

 of records. The records for this station cover a good deal of 

 the vicinity as far as altitude is concerned, for the change from 

 Upper Sonoran to Transition took place only a short distance 

 below our camp, and the Transition ran up rapidly above us 

 so as almost to develop into the Canadian stage of zonal asso- 

 ciation, the elevation just above our camp reaching over 5000 

 feet. 



Bird life was extremely scarce over much of this higher terri- 

 tory and search along the higher range brought but little re- 

 ward. This may have been partly due to lack of water, yet 

 many well watered areas in Siskiyou County often made but 

 little better showing. Our camp here was on the edge of a 

 small opening in the pine forest which extended over the range. 

 A quarter of a mile above us was a gap through which passed 

 the road to Fort Jones, in Scott Valley, while below the forest 

 merged into more or less brushy or chapparal country, with 

 some sage interspersed. 



We had come here in the hope of finding fox sparrows, but 

 were disappointed in this. While the brush in places was of 

 the right sort to suit fox sparrows, it was everywhere too low 

 and scattering, not affording the heavy cover which these birds 

 prefer, except at too low an altitude for this genus. 



Just above our cabin one morning I had the pleasure of find- 

 ing a brood of young Mountain Quail. The little fellows 

 swarmed about my feet when I happened to be standing still 

 for a few moments. The mother remained immovable not 

 over six feet from me, her confidence assured by a partial screen 

 of scraggly brush. She gathered her brood about her by utter- 

 ing a succession of almost (to me) imperceptible, but very musi- 

 cal little clucks, to which the youngsters paid instant and obe- 

 dient attention. Much as specimens were needed, it was far 



