Jan., 1918 EARLY AUTUMN BIRDS IN YOSEMITE VALLEY 17 



finny prey under the clear water — and it really did look a bit like a clumsy fish 

 as viewed from the rocks above the water's level. This bird would come so close 

 to shore as to enable one to see with the naked eye that the bill was depressed 

 (that is, broader than high) instead of compressed, thus identifying it as the 

 Eared Grebe. When first seen, August 21, there were just about enough of the 

 remnants of the nuptial plumage, a few of the yellow silky feathers on the side 

 of the head still extending far below the level of the eye, to determine the species 

 at close range without the aid of the bill. Some of the younger tourists amused 

 themselves by throwing bits of rock at the bird — which they did not hit ! Before 

 the missiles neared their mark it was performing submarine evolutions in plain 

 view of its audience. This grebe was seen a few days later on, but apparently 

 left Mirror Lake early in September. 



An effort was made to note the times of departure of some of the summer 

 visitants, but the sudden absence of a bird is much more difficult to determine 

 than its presence. The Calaveras Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla gutturalis) 

 breeds in the valley, but was scarce at the end of August. It was also difficult 

 to distinguish in the bushes and trees from the immature Macgillivray Warbler 

 (Oporornis tolmei) and from the Lutescent Warbler. The last specimen taken of 

 the Calaveras Warbler was on September 16, and the last bird was seen on Sep- 

 tember 26, of which latter there was some slight doubt as to identification. 



The Lutescent AA 7 arbler was first seen September 18, after which its numbers 

 increased slowly until the 26th when a small wave of migration reached the val- 

 ley, the eastern end of Sequoia Lane being especially popular as a feeding and 

 resting place. While no attempt at estimating their numbers was made, they 

 were in evidence all around the observer, probably seventy-five being noted that 

 morning. The next day, however, a tramp over the same ground showed but few 

 individuals remaining, not a dozen being seen during the whole day. On the 

 morning of the 29th, the day the writer left the valley, four were seen, so some 

 were still there. 



A close watch was constantly kept up for anything new, but it was not always 

 possible to identify everything that was caught sight of. For instance, near noon 

 of September 14, two sparrows, apparently Passerculus, were seen to fly out of 

 the meadow grass into a small willow bush near the bank of the river just below 

 Yosemite Village, but diligent search failed to bring them into view again. But 

 one Passerculus was taken, and this was on September 27, in the willows still far- 

 ther down river. It proved to be Passerculus sandwichensis nevadensis, Nevada 

 Savannah Sparrow, evidently a wanderer from the east side of the mountains. 

 No other Savannah Sparrows were noted. 



Another wanderer was a Brewer Sparrow (Spizella oreweri) which was 

 taken among some Western Chipping Sparrows. There may have been more of 

 these about, but it was impossible to pick them out among the latter. 



The Lincoln Sparrow (Melospiza lincolni lincolni) has been recorded from 

 the valley, but it was rather a surprise to find there the Forbush Sparrow (Me- 

 lospiza lincolni striata) also, a bird associated with the humid coast belt as a 

 winter visitant. Two of these were taken, one on September 15 and the other on 

 the 18th. 



Along the river are ideal spots for song sparrows, yet but three were seen 

 daring the six weeks of observation, and only one taken, on September 27, which 

 proved to be a visitor from the eastern side, this form having been described 

 from Honey Lake under the name Melospiza melodia fisherella, by Oberholser 

 (Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., xxiv, December, 1911, p. 251). 



