THE CONDOR 
15^5 
I Vol. Ill 
l)irds, although a very interesting list could doubtless be gathered from the various 
mountain lakes during the fall, winter and spring. 
Finally, the present paper is principally a compilation of nesting notes which 
have been gleaned from several years' outings in this portion of the Sierras It 
has been prompted by a desire to draw more of the ornithologists of California to 
this great natural aviary, not necessarily to engage in active collecting, but to 
learn of and appreciate its varied and interesting bird life. 
Mr. E yman Belding, whose long and continuous observations in the Sierra 
Nevada Mountains have given him a rare knowledge of its fauna, and whose writ- 
ings breathe always of the pine-woods, has advised every bird lover to visit this 
great mountain region if he has not already done so. I can scarcely hope to add 
force to his suggestion. Here a variety of natural features combine to form what 
one sojourner has termed “the grandest woodland in all the world.’’ Here, toward 
evening, a flood of melody leads us to the shad}' haunts of the Big Tree thrush on 
the border of some mountain meadow; here innumerable bird songs, the rush of 
the mountain torrent, the soft cadence of the pines and above all the pure mount- 
ain air impre.ss us profoundly with the wild beauty and perfection of Nature’s 
handiwork. 
LIST OF SPECIES. 
Oreortyx pictus plumiferus. Plumed Quail. This splendid quail is found 
commonlv from about 2000 feet upward to the summit and is abundant in Lake 
Valley. Its shrill call-note can be heard almost anywhere through the woods, and 
jrarticularly on the hillsides: the note is cpiite easily imitated and if jiersisted in 
will draw the bird close to the observer. At h'yffe tlie plumed ([uail begins nest- 
ing the last of May or early in June, and all nests observed were built in the 
“mountain misery’’ which here attains a height of from eight to ten inches. On 
June 7, 1899 Mr. Carriger and I collected two sets of eggs at h'yffe. The first nest 
was built at the base of a large cedar tree, being well concealed by Channcbalia 
and contained ten eggs, incubation about one-half advanced. Although disturbed 
repeatedly, the female bird returned to the nest with great persistence. The nest 
was photographed and its location is shown in the accompanying illustration. On 
the same day while walking through a patch ol “mountain misery’’ a quail fluslied 
from a set of eleven eggs. This was subsequently collected with t!ie nest, which 
was composed or the leaves and stems of Chatiiabatia and a lining of feathers. 
The eggs were about one-half incubated and formed two layers in the nest when 
collected. On June 10 1899 .Mr. Carriger collected a nest and ten eggs near the 
Fourteen-mile House, incubation well along. Mr. L- li. Taylor discovered a nest 
at about 5,000 feet altitude on June 16, built on a shelf of rock near the road. .\ 
cavity had been hollowed out in the sand and lined with leaves; this held six 
fresh eggs. I should advise collecting nests with sets when possible, for they add 
immensely to the interest and beauty of the eggs. The plumed quail were ob- 
served coming out into the road about dusk. 
[On .Mt. Tallac and on the higher slopes of Pyramid Peak, young just hatched 
have been observed as late as the 15th of August. By the first of September the 
(juail are restless and are beginning their j)eculiar vertical migration to the west 
slope of the mountains. .Sometimes four to six adults with their young will lorm 
a covey of ten to thirty individuals and pursue their way, almost wholly “on 
foot” along the ridges to a more congenial winter climate. By Oct. i the quail 
have almost abandoned the elevations above 5000 feet. In the fall the woodland 
is full of the d i.sconsolate “peeps” and whistling call notes of the young who have 
