ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM THE WEST. 397 
the Louisiana tanager were each more or less frequent. The 
horned lark, so characteristic of the Plains, was also numerous. 
The Tyrannide were well represented, the western race of the 
wood pewee being abundant, as were also two species of Empi- 
fonax, one being the western race of the yellow-bellied, and the 
other a representative of the least pewee of the East. The king- 
ird and the Arkansas flycatcher were also both frequently 
observed during the first half of September, and two specimens 
of the olive-sided pewee were taken. 
The great family of the sparrows and finches (Fringillide) was 
represented by eighteen species, the greater part of which were 
common. One half are strictly western, while the others are 
common species in the Atlantic States. Among the latter were 
the bay-winged, savanna, the yellow-winged, chipping, song and 
Lincoln’s sparrows, the common gold-finch or yellow bird, and the 
purple finch, all but the last named being either common or ex- 
teedingly abundant. Of the western species, the western white 
‘rowned, or Gambel’s sparrow, appeared in the valley in great 
Numbers about September 15th; a few specimens of the slate- 
colored sparrow (Passerella “ schistacea ”) were seen at about the 
same date, and the Oregon snowbird became common towards the 
Close of the month. Bell’s sparrow (Poospiza Bellii) was rather 
humerous on the dry plains, keeping on the ground among the 
brush. The western gold-finch (Chrysomitris psaltria) was 
also quite numerous, associating freely with the common species ; 
and a few specimens of the lazuli finch were also taken. The arc- 
W towhee (Pipilo “ arcticus ”) was an abundant inhabitant of the 
thickets, in habits strongly resembling the common towhee of the 
“St; though its song is somewhat similar to that of the eastern 
its call note is totally different, quite nearly resembling the 
Call note of the catbird. Blanding’s finch (Pipilo chlorurus) be- 
gan to appear in numbers about September 20th, from its breeding 
haunts inthe mountains. The clay-colored sparrow (Spizella pal- 
mis generally found in company with the chipping sparrow, 
a? as almost equally abundant. The black-headed grosbeak is 
mmer resident, but like its eastern congener, the rose-breasted, 
tts early for the south, and had already migrated when we 
poved. It is well known as the “ Pea-bird,” from its fondness 
8reen peas, of which it is so destructive that it is considered 
obnoxious Species, 
am 
