1889.] Silver Lake of Oregon. 975 
From the summit of the bluffs on the east, the eye ranges over 
the sage-brush desert of Central Oregon. Its surface is diversi- 
fied by hills and bluffs, which have generally one slope, and one 
precipitous side running generally north and south. The sur- 
face was everywhere dotted with the ubiquitous sage-brush (Ar- 
temisia), with here and there a generally distorted cedar (Juni- 
perus). This scene extended as far as the eye could reach, being 
bounded on the north-east by the long, low outline of the Wagon- 
The fauna of the lake interested me, and I was curious to 
know the species of fishes, if any, which inhabited its alkaline 
waters. These proved to be all Cyprinidae, and of but one species ; 
viz. : Myloleiicus formosus Girard, which I found also in Aberts 
Lake and Warners Lake. 
The only Batrachian which I found was the tree-frog, Hyla re- 
gilla B. and G., which was quite common near the water's edge. 
I have never known this species to be taken in trees. Of rep- 
tiles the most abundant was the Uta stanbsuriana B. and G., 
which occurs whenever it can sun itself or find concealment on 
the volcanic rocks. A variety of Sceloporus undulatus Harl. was 
also common ; but of other lizards I found none. The two 
snakes were the jed spotted garter snake, Eutcznia sirtalis pick- 
ermgii B. and G., and the rattlesnake, Crotaliis confiuentus lecon- 
tet Hallow. I found one of the latter near the house, and 
wrapping my hand well in my pocket handkerchief, I clapped it 
over his head, and transferred him to a botde of alcohol in short 
Birds are abundant on the lake. Geese and swans were always 
in sight, and pelicans and cormorants were common. The grebe 
Podiceps occidentalis Lawr. was to be seen singly or in pairs on 
the water at all times of the day, and their musical, finely trilled 
note was one yf the commonest sounds of the day or evening. 
They possess in a high degree the peculiarity of their tribe, that 
of immediately sinking from view, and of reappearing at a dis- 
tance after a submerged swim. Of the land birds, the most 
noteworthy was the Myiadestes townsendii. It is the most 
beautiful songster of the far west, rivaling in this respect its con- 
