HEERMANN'S NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 269 



Stitrnella neglecta, Aud. Abundant, incubating in the country. 

 Sturnella HippocREPUs.Wagler. Goes in company with the preceding species 

 in the fall season, when I have found both of them very abundant in the meadows of 

 Suisun valley. 



CoRvus coRAX, Linn. Abundant, and always to be found in the vicinity of 

 slaughter-yards, where they become very familiar, as I have known them to alight 

 on the entrails of an ox whilst the butchers were skinning the animal not two yards 

 distant. 



Pica Nuttallit, Aud. Very abundant, frequenting the same localities as the pre- 

 ceding species, and devouring the same food in their company. The nest is built of 

 twigs, forming a large sphere, with an entrance on the side, the interior being lined 

 with fine roots. 



Cyanocorax Stellerii, Gmel. Abundant in the mountains, where their noisy 

 chattering may be heard at all hours of the day. 



Cyanocorax Californicus, Vigors. Abundant all through the country. The 

 nest, which is built in a bush, or on the horizontal branch of an oak, at a small heicrht 

 from the ground, is formed of twigs, and lined with roots. The eggs, four in number, 

 are of an emerald green color, dotted profusely with umber brown spots. 



Lanius ExcuBiTORoiDES, Sw. Abundant on the plains of California. It is ashy 

 suspicious bird, flying onward as you advance, aud keeping out of gun shot rano-e. 

 Vireo solitarius, Vieill., and V. gilvus, Vieill., are abundant. 

 IcTERiA viRiDis, Gmcl. Abundant. 



Sitta carolinensis, Linn., and S. canadensis, Linn., are common. 

 Trochilus ANNA, Less. Abundant; incubating in the mountains. The nest, which 

 is built in the fork of a bush or on a small horizontal branch of an oak, is composed 

 of mosses, and lined with down taken from the fruit of the willow. The esrss, two in 

 number, are pure white. I found this bird at San Diego in February, 1851, and it 

 had already commenced to assume its spring plumage at that early period. 



Trochilus Alexandri, Bourcier. I first found this bird in the arid plains back 

 of Guymas, where, in April, it had already built its nest. I discovered it afterwards 

 in the vicinity of the burial ground of Sacramento city ; that locality being covered 

 with flowers and bushes, several pairs of this species had chosen it for the purposes 

 of incubation. The nest is composed of fine mosses, and lined with the feathery down 

 of various seeds. The eggs, two in number, are white. 



Selasphorus rufus, (Gmel.) Abundant; and I found it near San Francisco 

 durincj the summer season, but I did not discover its nest. 



Alcedo alcyon, Linn. Common on all the principal water courses. Several 

 persons have mentioned to me that a smaller species of Alcedo is found in the lower 

 country of California, but never having met with it, I mention it that future observers 

 raav seek, and perhaps verify what I have heard. 



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