228 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. [Tol.YJ. 



Zamelodia melanocephala (Swains) Coues. — Black-lieaded Grosbeat. 



Found in the canons along the northern border of Independence 

 Valley, and at Bull Eun Mountain, from the upper limit of the growth 

 of mountain mahogany down to the termination of ravines ; was again 

 noticed two miles south of Mineral Hill, but nowhere south of that 

 locality. Mr. Eidgway also secured specimens of the species in the West 

 Humboldt Mountains. Dr. Cooper reports it as a summer visitor at 

 San Diego and Santa Cruz, while Dr. Coues states it to be abundant at 

 Fort Whipijle during the summer, remaining as late as the end of Sep- 

 tember. Has not been reported from the southern portion of ]!^evada, 

 although iH'esume it to occur in the elevated regions at Mount Kagle and 

 Mount Magruder. 



Guiraca ccerulea (Linn.) Swains. — ^Blue Grosbeak. 



This species was met with in the valley north of Mount Magruder, 

 and on the western border of Deep Spring Valley, along the base of the 

 Inyo Eange, California. Dr. Cooper saw this bird first at Fort Mojave, 

 on the 6th of May, although becoming rather more common later, fre- 

 quenting the trees and bushes along the river. 



Passerina amoena (Say) Gray. — Lazuli Bunting. 



Is found in nearly all fertile regions along the mountain slopes and 

 valleys. Several specimens secured were found associating with Sialia 

 arctica at Bull Eun Mountain, though they had probably just arrived 

 there, May 25. Found later in the season throughout the lower interior 

 portion of the State in the elevated valleys near Mount I^Tagle, Mount 

 Magruder, and Spring Mountain. 



Calamospiza hicolor (Towns.) Bp. — Lark Bunting. 



The discovery of this species in Snake Valley, by Dr. Yarrow, is the 

 first notice of its occurrence within the borders of the State. Mr. Eidg- 

 way found one specimen near Parley's Peak, Utah, and Mr. Henshaw 

 noted its residence near ZuQi, (?) K. Mex., and in the Valley of the Gila, 

 in Arizona. Colorado is also given as a locality, especially about Port 

 Garland, thus presenting a wide geographical range beyond the area of 

 its original discovery. I found no traces of the species in Northern 

 Nevada, although the most favorable localities were searched for birds 

 generally; still it is probable that the species is more generally distrib- 

 uted over that portion of the State than we have at present any knowl- 

 edge. My opportunities for observing the habits of this interesting 

 bird during the breeding season occurred later in the upper portion of 

 Dakota, especially along Knife Eiver, which appeared to be the only 

 locality in that portion of the Territory where the species was common, 

 or rather occurred at all as far as could be ascertained. The birds were 

 not so shy as generally reported, and in several instances the men at- 

 tached to the command actually trod upon the very borders of the 



