1877.] Ill [Bendire. 



on Rattlesnake Creek. It does not breed in this vicinity, but, on the 

 northern slope of the Blue Mountains, is quite common. 



6. Sialia mexicana (Swains.). California Bluebird. 

 Common during their migrations ; none are known to remain to 



breed, but appear to move further to the north. 



7. Sialia arctica (Swains.). Eocky Mountain Bluebird. 

 Tkis species breeds here, but is not common. In the vicinity of 



Canyon City, Oregon, I found this species rather abundant, breeding 

 in old decayed pme stumps and deserted holes of woodpeckers. 

 Usual number of eggs five- and six. Average measurement of fifteen 

 specimens .84 X .62. There is a good deal of variation in the 

 color of these eggs ; some are very bright bluish green, others of a 

 very pale greenish color. The birds commence to nest about May 

 20, and probably raise two broods a season. None appear to nest 

 about houses ; they are shy, and confine themselves to the pine for- 

 ests and juniper groves on the mountains. I have noticed, a few as 

 late as Nov. 15. 



8. Begulus satrapa (Licht.). Golden-crowned Kinglet. 



I saw a few specimens Nov. 7, 1875, feeding among the alders and 

 willows on Rattlesnake Creek, and occasionally afterwards. They 

 are, however, not common. 



9. Regulus calendula (Licht.). Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 



This species undoubtedly breeds about here, as I have seen it dur- 

 ing the summer in the dark spruce forests in the Blue Mountains, at 

 an altitude of sixty-one hundred feet, but have been unable to find 

 its nest. A number remain amongst the willows and alders on 

 the creek bottom during the winter, in company with Parus monta- 

 nus and P. atricapillus, var. occidenlalis. It is a lively bird and a 

 fair songster. 



10. Parus montanus (Gambel). Mountain Chickadee. 

 Common during the winter months, in the willows and shrubbery 



near the creeks. In the summer they breed on the higher moun- 

 tains, but are not found in the lower valleys. On June 8, 1876, 

 while hunting for nests of Sialia artica on the summit of the Canyon 

 City mountain, I struck an old pine stump with a hatchet, and a bird 

 of this species flew out of a hole and perched on a small willow bush 

 close by, giving me a good opportunity to identify it. I found a 

 single egg at the bottom of the hole on some finely powdered wood, 

 but no nest. The ground color is clear white, and the egg is uni- 



PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. — VOL. XIX. 8 AUGUST, 1877. 



