May, 1904 I 
THE CONDOR 
73 
the railway, feeding on the waste dumped from the dining cars. On my approach 
they would fly out through the cracks in the shed, perch on nearby trees until the 
coast was clear, and then return to their feast. 
Clarke Nutcracker {^Nucifraga columbiayia). I have seen this bird on Mt. 
Tallac where it appeared to be feeding on the cones of the timberline pine. 
Bendire Crossbill {Loxia c. bendirei'). This is one of the most interesting of 
the w'inter birds, but probably of rather irregular occurrence as I have seen only a 
few flocks. Each time they were feeding industriously on the cones of the tama- 
rack pine, in a few minutes fairly darkening the snow beneath with scales and 
refuse. At Summit in February, 1901, I observed a large flock of these birds each 
day during my stay of a week. The flock, perhaps containing twenty individuals, 
adults and those in immature plumage, was not wary, but often allowed me to 
approach the tree and watch them deftly pry open the cones with their sharp 
mandibles. When alarmed, the whole flock would leave the tree with a rush, 
circle a few times and alight in a tree in the neighborhood, beginning to feed 
at once. 
American Dipper, {Chulus }?iexica>a<s'). The dipper is found along all the 
open streams. 1 have heard its beautiful wild song at all times, strangely sweet 
HEATHER LAKE AND PYRAMID PEAK RANGE 
and almost out of place in the .solitude of winter. One evening along the Truckee 
River in the midst of a fierce snowstorm I heard its song. I could not locate the 
bird at first, but after a time I found it perched on a rock in the shallow water and 
overhung by a huge snowbank. For a time I watched it pouring out song after 
song, and when I pa.ssed on I could still hear the sweet notes until distance and 
the rush of the storm silenced it. 
Canyon Wren {Catherpes m. pioictulatus). I found a dead bird of this 
species in the snow at the Glen Alpine resort in March, 1903. The watchman 
there told me that there had been a pair about the buildings the entire winter but 
they had disappeared during the recent hard storm. This present February I 
heard the song of this bird in the snow-sheds at Summit Station and while I did 
not see the specimen its song w'as unmistakable. It probably had its retreat in 
the round house or other railroad buildings. The sheds themselves are so filled 
with smoke and gas from the passing locomotives that residence there would be 
intolerable. 
Mountain Chickadee {Parus gambeli). This is by far the most common of 
all the winter birds. They are found everywhere and often in scattering flocks of 
