400 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Last spring I heard a pair uttering cries of distress, and ibund upon 

 proceeding to the spot a Blue Jay about to rob their nest. I shot the 

 Jay, which was only about fifteen or twenty yards from nie, when the 

 male Gnatcatcher immediately came and perched on a bush not more 

 than live or six feet distant, a little above my head, and poured forth 

 a loud, cheery, musical strain of thankfulness (as it seemed to me), such 

 as I did not think the little bird capable of producing. 



A nest found at Murphy's was in the forks of a small pine-tree about 

 fifteen feet from the ground, or less. 



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*Murphy's 



Stockton. . 

 Marysville 



Apr. 5, 1877 

 Apr. 5, 1877 

 Mar. 23,1878 

 June — , 1878 



Familv PABIDiE : The Titmice. 



"16. Lophophanes inornatus, (Gamb.). — Plain Titmouse. 



This bird is a common constant resident of the valleys and foot-hills. 

 I have not seen it in the pine forests. A nest found at Stockton, May 

 29, was in the cavity of an elongated oak knot, eight feet from the 

 ground. In drawing the nest out with a stick, the eggs were broken — 

 the number was four, the color white.* The bird had been sitting about 

 a week. While the nest was being taken, the occupant, having retreated 

 to the central hollow of the trunk of the large oak of which the knot 

 formed a part, appeared a few feet above me, and silently watched the 

 proceedings. 



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Murphy's. 

 Stockton . . 

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Apr. 5, 1877 

 Apr. 17,1878 

 Apr. 9, 1878 



* 17. Parus montanus, Gainb. — Mountain Chickadee. 



This is a very common summer resident of Big Trees, and I have 

 found it abundant at Soda Springs and Summit in the fall. Big Trees 

 is nearly the lower limit of its breeding range. 



I have found three nests, all in low, decayed stumps, two of them in 

 a clearing, one in open forest. All were composed of wool, a consider- 

 able quantity of which had been used in their construction. The eggs 

 are pure white.t Seven appears to be about the usual number. The 

 young birds, when nearly ready to leave the nest, hiss, as their parents 

 do, when disturbed on the nest. 



In December, 1878, I saw a flock of this species at Copperopolis (alt. 

 about 1,200 ft.), the first I have seen in the chaparral belt. 



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* The eggs of this species, usually plain white, are sometimes, though rarely, spot- 

 ted, like those of L. hicolor. — R. R. 



t A curious fact ; in all other American species of this genus, so far as known, they 

 are heavily speckled with reddish brown. — R. R. 



