May, 1893.] BIRDS OF THE DEATH VALLEY EXPEDITION. 9 



ence Creek in Kearsarge Pass. This was a great surprise, as hereto- 

 fore the species has been recorded within our limits only along the 

 southern border, and its presence was not suspected until a specimen 

 was taken in the Panamint Mountains in April. 



LeConte's thrasher (Harporhynchus lecontei), contrary to our expecta- 

 tions, was a common resident throughout the principal desert valleys 

 from Owens Yalley at the east foot of the Sierra Nevada across south- 

 ern California and Nevada to southwestern Utah, where it was found 

 nearly to the summit of the Beaverdam Mountains. Northward it was 

 observed in Owens Yalley almost to Benton, a short distance south of 

 the 38th parallel. It was also taken by Mr. Nelson in the southern part 

 of the San Joaquin Yalley, California, about Buena Yista Lake. 



The bird life of a region is materially affected by various agencies, 

 such as changes in the character of the country brought about by the 

 destruction of forests, the drying up of springs and water courses, and 

 other causes. But in the High Sierra the sheep industry is doing more 

 than anything else to make that region uninhabitable for certain species 

 of birds and also for other forms of life, as long since pointed out by 

 Mr. Henshaw (Appendix JJ, Annual Beport of the Chief of Engineers 

 for 1876, p. 225). During the summer the sheep almost totally destroy 

 all the smaller plants and shrubs which, except in the wet meadows, 

 do not grow again until the following spring. The writer has walked 

 for miles along the hillsides where these animals had recently grazed 

 without seeing a plant of any description save the larger woody shrubs. 

 That the destruction of vegetation by sheep in this region is a potent 

 cause of the scarcity of ground-inhabiting birds is evident by contrast 

 to anyone visiting the national parks where no sheep are allowed to 

 graze and where the vegetation is consequently uninjured and many 

 species of birds abundant. 



One member of the expedition, Mr. Yernon Bailey, traversed the 

 Yirgin Yalley in southwestern Utah and eastern Nevada and the 

 Detrital and Sacramento valleys, Arizona, during the winter of 1888-'89. 

 His notes on several of the birds observed are incorporated in the 

 present report. 



With few exceptions it was thought better not to include matter 

 from published reports partially covering the same region, since most 

 of this material has been republished already in Mr. Belding's Land 

 Birds of the Pacific Coast District. 



In the following report 290 species and subspecies of birds are dwelt 

 upon at greater or less length. The nomenclature adopted is that of 

 the American Ornithologists' Union. 



The writer wishes to extend his sincere thanks to all members of the 

 expedition who assisted in collecting specimens or information for the 

 present report. He wishes also to acknowledge the kindness of Mr. L. 

 Belding, who furnished data on certain birds observed by him during a 

 short trip to the Yosemite National Park in June, 1891. In all important 

 instances credit is given to the observer under the head of each species. 



