1908] Grinnell_—Biota of the San Bernardino Mountains. 51 
year observations would add many more transients, besides a 
large list of winter visitants. 
The ornis of the San Bernardino mountains, in common with 
that of the other high mountains of southern California, bears 
closest resemblance to that of the Sierra Nevada of east central 
California. A tendency toward increase in size of such San 
Bernardino species as are subject to geographical variation is 
quite noticeable; so that in certaim cases, such as the hermit 
thrush and creeper, the San Bernardino birds are somewhat in- 
termediate in the direction of the Rocky Mountain races. Other 
species, like the Stephens fox sparrow and gray flycatcher, show 
large size, but are without parallels in the Rocky Mountain region. 
With variable birds in the mountain systems of California, there 
seems to be a general inerease in size from the north towards the 
south, a reversal of the case on the Atlantic coast. 
Colymbus californicus (Heermann). American Eared Grebe. 
American eared grebes were met with in only one place, on 
Bear lake. Here from July 28 to August 3, 1905, adults, and 
young of various sizes, could be seen or heard on the marshy east 
end of the lake at almost any hour of the day or night. 
One of the most interesting sights on the lake was that of an 
old grebe swimming about with one and often even two young 
on her, or his back; for the two parents were equally attentive to 
their young. The smallest downy young could dive readily for 
long distances at the approach of danger, and the half grown 
young were nearly as expert at diving as the adults. These 
young birds kept up a continual peeping, very similar in sound 
to that of a young turkey. 
Although very young grebes were seen daily swimming about 
with their parents we did not succeed in finding any nests or 
eges until the last time we explored the marsh. We finally rowed 
into a nest among a thick mass of a water plant at the extreme 
east end of the lake. This plant (Polygonum amphibium) grew 
in thick mats on the surface of the water, and the patches of pink 
blossoms harmonized pleasingly with the dark green foliage and 
blue water. From a distance the lake had the appearance of an 
old patchwork quilt with pink, green and blue blocks. The nest 
