392 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



99, Butorides vircsccns. 



100. Nyctiardea "nwuia." 



101. Botaurus lentiginosus. 



102. Ardctta cxilis. 



103. Gallinago icilsoni. 



104. Tringoidos macularius. 



105. Anas boschas. 



103. Mareca amcricana. 



107. Bytes u calif or nicus." 



108. Podilymbus podiceps. 



From August 27 to September 5, 1878, forty-two species were ob- 

 served. Many of the summer residents had gone. Those remaining 

 were — 



21. Spizella "arizona'," common. 



Big Trees, Calaveras Co. (lat. 38° 15', alt. 4,500 ft,), is in the heart 

 of the coniferous forest of the Sierra Nevada. In this locality the pines, 

 firs, cedars, and other conifers attain their largest size and most perfect 

 growth. Deciduous oaks constitute a very small part of the forest, but 

 they are mostly confined to the more barren spots. The climate at Big 

 Trees is agreeably temperate during a portion of May, and throughout 

 June, July, August, and September. The winters are mild, considering 

 the altitude; but snow, to a depth of one to four or five feet, usually 

 covers the ground, although some seasons the surface is bare for the 

 greater portion of the time 



The summer avifauna of this locality resembles, to a considerable 

 extent, that of Soda Springs and Summit Meadows, the more notable 

 absentees being Pinieola "canadensis," Hesperiphona vespertina, Zonotri- 

 chia intermedia, Picicorvuscolumbianus, and Picoides arcticus, all of which, 

 however, probably visit Big Trees at some time of the year. 



1. Tardus migratorius (var. propinquus). 



2. Harporhynchus rcdivivus, few. 



3. Sialia mcxicana, common. 



4. Polioptila c&riilca (only one). 



5. Cliamwa fasciata, common. 



6. Lopltoplwnes inornatus, common. 



7. Psaltriparus minimus, common. 



8. Salpinctes obsoletus, common. 



9. Sitta "aculeata," rare. 



10. Troglodytes u par~kmanni," rare. 



11. Bendrocca cestiva, rare. 



12. Hirundo "borreorum," common. 



13. Petrochdidon lunifrons, very rare. 



14. Vireosylvia " swainsoni," rare. 



15. Phainopepla nitens, rather rare. 



16. Lanius " excubitorides." 



17. Pyranga ludoviciana. 



18. Carpodacus 11 rlxodocolpus," very com- 



22. Pipilo "megalonyx" common. 



23. Pipilo u crissalis," very common. 



24. Sturnclla neglecta, common. 



25. Scolecopliagus cyanoccpliaJus, rare. 



26. Apliclocoma californica, common. 



27. Cyanocitta "frontalis" (one). 



28. Tyrannus verticalis (four). 



29. ATyiarchus cinerascens (one). 



30. Sayomiis nigricans, common. 



31. Contopus borealis (two). 



32. Contopus ricliardsoni, rare. 



33. Empidonax pusillus, rare. 



34. Calypte annce, common. 



35. Coccyzus americanus (heard one). 



36. Picas nuttalU, common. 



37. Melanerpes formicivorus, common. 



38. Colaptcs "mcxicanns," common. 



39. Phinogryplius aura, few. 



40. Zenwdura carolinensis, common. 



41. Oreortyx picta (one seen).* 



42. Lopliortyx californica, abundant. 



mon. 



19. Chrysomitris psaltria, very common. 



20. Chondestes grammica, very commou. 



* More were probably present, as a gentleman told me a flock had bred there the 



past season, on a level with Murphy's. 



