Nov., 1901. I 
THE CONDOR 
151 
A List of the Land Birds of the Placerville--Lake Tahoe Stage Road. 
CENTRAL SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, CAL. 
BY CHEvSTER BARLOW 
With Supplementary Notes by W. W. Price 
T he region embraced in this title covers a magnificent stretch of forest in the 
central Sierra Nevada Mountains which, for natural beauty, is probably not 
surpassed elsewhere in the state. The general nature of the country is not 
of that extreme rugged type of which Yosemite Valley or the Kings River Can- 
5^on farther south in the mountain chain are examples, but attains its sublimity by 
gradual rises. 
From the Sierran foothills gently-sloping ridges follow each other in billowy 
succession, becoming more abrupt as we ascend, until at Echo great mountain- 
sides of granite crop out, marking the most rugged part of the route. The Lake 
Tahoe stage road has wound its way over the divide from the east and down the 
American River since pioneer days, yet it seems to have been but little frequented 
by ornithologists, and perhaps more systematic work has been done along this 
route during the, past ten years than at all previous times. 
The distance from Placerville to the summit of the mountains is approximately 
50 miles and an additional 12 miles along the east slope brings one to Tallac on the 
southerly shore of Lake Tahoe. The road for the most part is excellent during 
the early summer months and travel liy team is an enjoyable means of progression 
if one has the time at his disposal. To those less favored with time I would 
recommend going by rail to Placerville, thence by stage (running semi-weekly) to 
such point along the road as may be desired. If a more varied itinerary is desired 
one may continue on to Tallac, cross Lake Tahoe by steamer and reach Truckee, 
whence the return home may be made by the Central Pacific Railroad. 
DESCRIPTION OF ROUTE. 
Along this route extending from the chaparral covered foothills to an approx- 
imate altitude of 8,000 feet the changes in bird life may be interetsingly followed 
as we ascend. At Placerville, located in the lower ridges of the range (altitude 
1800 ft.) only a sprinkling of mountain species occur through the summer, but as 
we ascend the generality of valley birds decreases with the increased altitude, al- 
though a few pre-eminently \mlley forms — notably Spizella socialis arizon<z, Vireo 
Pipilo maculatus ?negalonyx and Zamelodia melanocephala extend to the sum- 
mit, — an altitude of 8,000 feet. It is an interesting problem as to why these par- 
ticular birds of the valley should seek such altitudes, while the great majorit}’ of 
austral species decline with the beginning of the coniferous forests. 
From Placerville, about which fo’ests of yellow pine begin, the timber growth 
is for the most part heavy and so continues to the summit. The principal other 
coniferous trees through the forests are sugar pine, fir, cedar, Douglas spruce, 
hemlock, yew, juniper and tamarack, according to altitude. The principal de- 
ciduous tree of the region is the black oak which seems to constitute a favorite 
feeding-ground for the smaller birds, and which extends up to 5500 feet but not 
higher. 
