m. 2.] HOFFMAN ON THE BIRDS OF NEVADA. 209 



Sesperocichla ncevia (Gmel.) Baird. — Varied Eobin. 



This species is distributed more particularly over the northwestern 

 coast region of the United States, thence northward to Alaska. Lieu- 

 tenant Ives' party procured one specimen in the Colorado Valley in 1858, 

 which thus far seems to limit its southern range. Dr. Cooper found it 

 in the lower portion of California in winter, and states that it is very 

 probable that some breed in the evergreen forests of the north, as they 

 do near the mouth of the Columbia, and that in October they come down 

 to the valleys, and are quite common in winter near San Francisco. Mr. 

 Henshaw* says : " A male of this species which ] saw confined in a cage 

 in a store in Carson City was said by the owner to have been captured 

 during the previous spring (1876) in the adjoining mountains. For this 

 statement I cannot vouch, but give it for what it is worth." This thrush, 

 had not been recorded from any locality east of the Sierras, except- 

 ing four instances of its occurrence on the Atlantic coast, all within a 

 limited area, though, as Mr. Henshaw says, there seems to be no reason 

 why during the migrations, as in the case of other birds possessing a 

 similar summer habitat, the species may not occur along the eastern 

 slope. Since the above notes were published by Mr. Henshaw the fol- 

 lowing has been received from him regarding this species :t '' In winter 

 occurs along the eastern slope [of the Sierras] and is found in Nevada 

 at the base of the mountains at least as far south as Carson ; leaves for 

 the north about the first of April." 



Oreoscoptes niontanus (Towns.) Baird. — Mountain Mockingbird; Sage 



Thrasher. 



Of frequent occurrence throughout the northern and middle sections 

 of the State ; found in the valleys amongst the sage-brush, though 

 usually in greater numbers in the vicinity of streams, as in Independ- 

 ence Valley, Humboldt Valley, near Mineral Hill, and Deep Spring 

 Valley. Mr. Eidgway records Carson City, Austin, and the Humboldt 

 Valley, at Oreana, as localities. None were again seen south of Bel- 

 mont, though favorable localities were found. 



Mimus polyglottus (Linn.) Boie. — Mockingbird. 



The Mockingbird found on the Pacific coast appears, according fo Dr. 

 Cooper, " to form a peculiar variety, differing from the eastern in being 

 larger and having the tail more graduated, besides some minor differ- 

 ences of color." At Fort Mojave this species was rare in March, and so 

 shy that no shot could be had at them. The same observer further 

 states that they were common in May along the Mojave Eiver, and west- 

 ward to San Diego. 



* Ann. Eep. Geoij. Sur. west of tlie lOOtli meridian. Being Appendix N N of Ann. 

 Kep. Chief of Eng'rs, 1S77, p. 1315. 

 1 Letter dated December .5, 1878, 



14 GB 



