APPENDIX TO OSCINES. 231 



placer diggings, close to the miners' cabins. It rarely ventures far from its favorite 

 rooky retreats ; but occasionally visits the road-sides to j)iclv up flies and other insects, 

 and sometimes hops over the roofs of cabins and mills, and not infrequently chooses 

 the lidge as a convenient place from which to serenade its mate. It has a curious, 

 rapidly repeated note, that sounds like the whirring of wings ; its song is very beauti- 

 ful, louder and sweeter than that of the House Wren, though not as varied. While 

 singing, the bird usually perches on the top of a heap of stones, and stands erect, with 

 head thrown up, like the Carolina Wren. At such times it is quite timid, and if 

 alarmed, instantly ceases the song and looks anxiously around, bobbing itself up and 

 down every little while, like the Dipper, and presently creeps down into the stone- 

 heap. Late in autumn its feathers become much worn from constant creeping among 

 the rocks. In September it disappears. 



[To synonyms of T. aeclon add: Hylemalhrous aedon, Cab., J. f. O. 1860, 407. — E. C] 



Tkoglodytes AiiDOiJ %'ar. parkmani, Parkman's Wren. This bird, now regarded aa 

 a variety of Troglodytes aiidoH, nevertheless presents many distinguishing character- 

 istics from the latter bird, not only in size and color, but in note.s and habits; and 

 hence, though merely a geographical race, may well be designated as Parkman's Wren, 

 in distinction from the typical House Wren. It arrives at Idaho in the middle of May, 

 and soon becomes abundant, extending its range up to 10,.'j00 feet, and occasionally 

 venturing nearly up to timber-line. In many of its habits it is very similar to the 

 House Wren ; but it frequently haunts rocky hill-sides and cliffs and ledges of rock, 

 which I have never observed the latter to do. As is the case with many other birds, 

 its notes differ strikingly from those of its eastern relatives. It has far more variety 

 in its song, which at times is precisely the same as that of the House Wren, and at 

 others is very difierent, yet always wren-like — clear, ringing, and changeable. It has 

 one uote which I never heard the latter bird utter — a rapid chirruping note, more like 

 the rattling noise ])roduced by a grasshopper or cricket than that of a bird, quite 

 similar, in fact, to the peculiar sound produced by the Eock Wren, referred to previ- 

 ously. This note it rarely utters, however; nor is it as fond of the scolding chatter 

 that the House Wren uses so frequently to express its anger or alarn. It nests where- 

 ever it can find a chink or cranny to build in — between the log's of a miner's cabin, in 

 deserted mills, among the timbering about the mouths of old shafts and tunnels, and 

 in any snug little nook it can find. It raises two and sometimes three broods; and, 

 between 8,000 and 10,500 feet, the last brood is hatched in the latter part of July. The 

 eggs and nest are similar to those of eastern birds; the number of the former is usually 

 five, though sometimes only four. It disappears in September. 



[_Telniotodi/tes palustria was taken by JlERiiiAJi (No. 62327, Idaho): U. S. Geol. Surv. 

 Ter. 1872, 673.— E. C] 



ICislotliorus stellaris. Satisfactory evidence of the presence of this species at Utah 

 Lake was obtained by Jlr. Henshaw during the last season. — E. C] 



[To synonyms of Anorlliiira troglodytes var. hi/emaUs add: Troglodytes jiarvulus var. 

 hyemalis, B. B. & E., N. A. B. i, 1874, 155.— E. C] 



Ekemophila alpestkis var. criKYSOLiEjiA, It'esia-n Horned Larlc. This bird is not 

 abundant in the mountains, there being few localities suitable to its habits. It is 

 rather common in Bergen's Park, and may be seen occasionally in. the mountain val- 

 leys and meadows and on hill-sides, as well as above timber-line, breeding from the 

 foot-hills up to the summit of the range, wherever it can find a spot adaj>ted to its 

 tastes. Although abundant on the plains throughout winter, it does not enter the 

 mountains till spring. On the 11th of July I found several pairs in an extensive grassy 

 plain near James' Peak, at least a thousand feet above timber-line, that were evidently 

 breeding there, although I looked in vain for their nests. They "were a little larger, 

 apparently, than specimens from the plains,, and very brightly colored. 



Anthus ludovicanus. Brown Larh. Abundant ; migratory ; breeds in great num- 

 bers above timber-line. The Titlark arrives at Idaho Springs in the early part of May, 

 frequenting (jpen hill-sides, and showing a partiality to the plowed fle.ds of mountain 

 ranches. By June it has ascended to the summit of the range, and commences nest- 

 ing almost as soon as the snow has sufficiently melted to allow the ground to dry and 

 the grass to come up, incubation beginning in the first and second weeks in July. The 

 nest is placed under the shelter of a projecting stone, and is very neatly constructed 

 of coarse grass externally, lined with fine grass, and is about three inches and a half 

 in diameter. The eggs are five in number ; the ground-color dark brownish-purple, 

 almost hidden by spots and splashes-of purplish-black. Eggs from different nests vary 

 somewhat in the intensity of the colors, some being mucLi lighter and grayer than 

 others, but the general aspect is always quite dark. Tl)ere is also considerable vari- 

 ation in the colors and size of individual birds; in some the legs being black, in others 

 lighter, occasionally light brown ; some having two bands of white on the wings, and 

 others having no trace of theto whatever; some being much darker beneath than 

 others ; with other variations. Notwithstanding which, I could not define any well- 

 marked or constant varieties, as, among a large number of specimens, the various 

 forms of coloration and size seemed to shade imperceptibly into each other. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



