Bendire.] 110 [March 21, 



undisturbed breeding resorts for many species. The climate, gen- 

 erally speaking, may be called mild. In the higher mountain val- 

 leys it is almost arctic, ice being formed there even in midsummer; 

 and many species of birds breed there which generally go much 

 farther north for this purpose. 



1. Turdus nanus (Aud.). The Dwarf Hermit Thrush. 

 Apparently rare. On June 28, 1875, I found a nest of this species 



containing three young nearly fledged, and an addled egg. The nest 

 was placed on the ground under a laurel bush in a ravine near the 

 head of Rattlesnake Creek, a few miles from Camp Harney, Oregon. 

 The egg is pale green, measuring .89 X -65 of an inch, and un- 

 spotted. 



2. Turdus migratorius (Linn.). Robin. 



An abundant summer resident, breeding in great numbers in this 

 vicinity. A few pass the milder winters here, frequenting at such 

 times the junipers, whose berries furnish them their principal food; 

 they are undoubtedly birds which have been reared farther north. 



3. Turdus nsevius (GmeL). Varied Thrush. 



Rare. A single specimen of this species was shot by Lieut. G. R. 

 Bacon, U. S. A., March 7, 1876, a fine male. He found it amongst 

 the shrubbery on Rattlesnake Creek, a short distance from Camp 

 Harney, amongst a number of the common robin, evidently a strag- 

 gler, as it was the only one seen. 



4. Oreoseoptes montanus (Baird). Mountain Mocker. 



A common summer resident. This species is one of the earliest 

 birds to arrive in the spring, and its presence is easily detected 

 by its superb song. I find this bird both on the large sagebrush 

 plains and in the small valleys on the summit of the Blue Mountains 

 at an altitude of over six thousand feet, but not so common as in the 

 lower Harney valley. It nests in various bushes, principally, how- 

 ever, in sage and serviceberry bushes, and appears to prefer sunny 

 hillsides for this purpose. It commences to lay here about the end of 

 April; usual number of eggs four, occasionally five. The average 

 measurement of their eggs is 0.95 X 0.70 of an inch. There is but 

 little variation in either the ground color or markings of their eggs. 

 I believe that two broods are raised in a season. They leave here 

 about the middle of September. I found them common during the 

 winter months in Southern Arizona. 



5. Cinclus mexicanus (Swains.). Water Ouzel. 



Rare. I took a single specimen (?) of this species Feb. 18, 1875, 



