128 University of California Publications in Zoology. (Vou.5 
Polioptila caerulea obscura Ridgway. Western Gnatcatcher. 
At Seven Oaks, in the chaparral belt, several gnatcatchers 
were seen July 9, 1905, and a nest in process of construction 
located twenty feet up among the bare branches of a dead Jeffrey 
pine. Both birds were building, bringing material and moulding 
the nest alternately. The male was singing meanwhile almost 
constantly. i 
This species was noted in June on Mill ereek. A single gnat- 
catcher was seen at Bear lake on July 31; and the species was 
fairly common August 16 to 17 on Cactus Flat, 6000 feet. At 
Saragossa springs, 7500 feet, two were seen August 26. It was 
also noted on the desert at Cushenbury springs, August 10 to 14; 
and at the north base of Sugarloaf, August 20. Three specimens 
were secured. 
Myadestes townsendii (Audubon). Townsend Solitaire. 
The Townsend solitaire proved to be represented in moderate 
numbers on the higher. parts of the San Bernardino mountains. 
It seemed to be exclusively confined to the upper Transition and 
Boreal zones. Birds were often seen in full song at 8500 to 9500 
feet altitude on the ridges north of San Gorgonio peak in June 
and July. Often when singing they soared about high overhead, 
at the same time indulging in an eestasy of bubbling song. Sev- 
eral were noted on the north side of San Bernardino peak at about 
9000 feet altitude, July 12,1905. Although usually noted much 
higher they seemed to be nesting altogether on rocky canon sides 
2000 to 3000 feet lower. But here the birds were remarkably 
quiet; I repeatedly passed up and down the canon by a nesting 
place, without suspecting that a solitaire was anywhere in the 
vicinity. 
In Fish creek canon, at about 7000 feet altitude, we found 
two nests on June 16, 1905; one of these contained three newly- 
hatched young. This was located under an overhanging rock 
on a shelving bank about ten feet above the stream. The nest 
was composed entirely of pine needles which straggled down be- 
low the nest proper for fully a foot. The hollow of the nest was 
shallow, about three inches across and one inch deep. The young 
