1912] Taylor: Birds and Reptiles of Northern Nevada. 405 



The birds were shy at all times. 



On July 17 two flocks of young birds were noted. The par- 

 ents seemed very solicitous for the welfare of their offspring. 



Passer domesticus (Linnaeus) 

 English Sparrow 

 A few noted May 11 about houses in Winnemucca. No 

 specimens were collected. 



Piranga ludoviciana (Wilson) 

 Western Tanager 

 Occurred rather sparingly along our route. Those observed 

 were very shy. The first individual was seen between Amos and 

 Tregaskis Well, where it was frightened from the sagebrush. 

 They were noted at nearly all the camps, though in very limited 

 numbers. The birds may have been breeding in Transition. 

 Specimens taken, four (nos. 9154-9156, 9231). 



Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons (Say) 

 Cliff Swallow 



Distrihution.— Observed at localities below 5000 feet altitude 

 in the Upper Sonoran zone. 



Hahits.— It was the usual thing to see cliff swallows circling 

 about the eaves of ranch buildings. They were more abundant 

 at Quinn River Crossing than at any other point visited. On 

 May 16 about 50 were seen flying about over our camp. The 

 birds seldom alight on any sort of perch except in their nests, 

 but individuals were twice observed resting upon the ground. 

 They remained for no more than thirty seconds. Four indi- 

 viduals were noted at the mouth of Wheeler Creek, several miles 

 from Quinn River Ranch. 



The last of ]\Iay the birds commenced building nests at the 

 Crossing, for the most part on the east sides of the barns. Some 

 were nesting in low cliffs not far from the river. At Big Creek 

 Ranch the season seemed to be somewhat later, and the birds 

 were seen gathering mud the middle of June. On June 21 the 

 foundation of a nest had been built on the south side of the 



