May, 1893.] BIRDS OF THE DEATH VALLEY EXPEDITION. 97 



in the Lower Sonoran zone, though it winters in this zone and passes 

 through it in great numbers during migration. 



In winter it was common along the entire route of the expedition. It 

 was seen at Oajon Pass in the San Bernardino Mountains, January 2, 

 and on the Mohave Desert, at Hesperia, in flocks of from ten to twenty,' 

 January 4-5; at Victor, Stoddard Wells, and Daggett, January 6-10; 

 at Granite Wells, January 13-15; at Lone Willow Spring, January 

 15-19. It was found in Death Valley from the lower end to Furnace 

 Creek, Jauuary21 to February 4; at Besting Springs, February 6-17, 

 and at Ash Meadows, Nevada, the first three weeks in March. 



Mr. Stephens found it common in Oasis Valley, Nevada, March 15-19- 

 not common at Grapevine Spring, California, April 1-4; and Mr. Nelson 

 found it everywhere common in Pahrump Valley about the ranch, and 

 along the route down through Vegas Valley and Wash, to the Bend of 

 the Colorado, March 3-16. Dr. Merriam saw a few in tree yuccas on 

 the Mohave Desert near the mouth of Cajon Pass, March 30, and a 

 number near Daggett, April 4-6. He noted the species at Windy Gap, 

 April 7; in Death Valley, near Bennett Wells, April 9-12; inMesquite 

 Valley, April 13; Emigrant Canon, in the Panamint Mountains, April 

 14 and 15, and found it common in Perognathus Flat, April 15. Per- 

 ognathus Flat is a high basin in the Panamint Mountains, at the lower 

 edge of the Upper Sonoran zone, and the species may remain there to 

 breed. At the mouth of Johnson Canon, in the Panamint Mountains, 

 the writer saw this species March 25, and Mr. Bailey saw one in 

 Wild Eose Canon, near the c charcoal kilns,' in the same mountains, 

 June 25. At Hot Springs, in Panamint Valley, a few were seen in 

 Atriplex bushes by Dr. Merriam, April 19-24, and one was seen at Leach 

 Point Spring, April 25. He did not find it in the Lower Santa Clara 

 Valley near St. George, Utah, but met with it in great abundance in 

 passing north from this valley towards the Escalante Desert. It was 

 one of the most characteristic birds at the upper Santa Clara Cross- 

 ing, Utah, May 17, thence northward through Mountain Meadows to 

 the Escalante Desert and Shoal Creek, and westerly across the low 

 rolling plateau of the Juniper Mountains to Meadow Creek Valley, 

 Nevada. It was common also in Desert Valley, Nevada, and in the 

 neighboring Pahroc Mountains, May 20-21. A few were seen in the 

 sage plain on Mount Magruder plateau, Nevada, June 5, and in. the sage 

 brush in Owens Valley, June 10-19. In this valley Mr. Stephens found 

 it not common at Ash Creek, May 30- June 3; at Morans, July 4-7; and 

 common at Olancha toward the mountains and breeding; at Independ- 

 ence Creek, June 18-23; at Benton, July 9-10; and was seen at Bishop 

 Creek, August 4-10. Mr. Nelson found it common at the head of 

 Owens Kiver the latter part of July; on both slopes of the Inyo Moun- 

 tains, from the valleys up to the middle or upper part of the pifion 

 belt, June 24-July 4; and common in the White Mountains, up to the 

 middle of the same belt. He did not find it in the north end of the Pana- 

 12731— No. 7 7 



