i6o 
THE CONDOR 
I Vol. Ill 
strayed from their cov^eys. In the early spring and summer the quail begin their 
upward journey, not in flocks, but usually in pairs or singly, ascending as fast as 
the snow melts from the ground. At this mating season their rich clear whistle is 
continually heard, though at no time during the year are they quiet. I observed 
several pair near Slippery Ford on the 20th of April, 1897, though snow still cov- 
ered the ground in many places. — W. W. P.] 
Lophortyx californicus vallicolus. Valley (Juail. Observed in the region of 
Smith Flat and probably e.vtends up as far as h'yffe. Not nearly as common as 
the preceding sjjecies. 
[Common about the Six-mile House and as far as the Ten-mile House. 
\'oung, a few days old, were observed at the vSix-mile House June 26, 1896. — 
\V. W. P.] 
Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus. Sooty Grouse. Occurs from the Four- 
teen mile House to the summit, but apparently not common at any ])oint. On 
Plum Creek Mr. Taylor and I heard them “drumming” in the tall spruce on the 
hillsides. On June 14, 1901 we had just cro.ssed the summit and made a turn in 
the road when a sooty grouse was observed crouched about 50 feet awa^’ against 
the bank. One shot from the auxiliary barrel did not disturb it; the second 
caused it to fly down the hill into a tall tamarack, where it was subse([uently 
found sitting in plain view on a bare limb, from which it was collected. 
[I have iu)ted this species from the Twelve-mile House to 9500 feet on I^yra- 
mid Peak and Mt. Tallac. Unlike the plumed quail the gionse does not migrate 
to the lower levels, i)ut remains regardless of the depth of snow, feeding on the 
conifers. April 21, 1897, while parsing on snowshoes on the divide above vSlippery 
Ford, I surprised a large flock where the snow was fully 15 feet on the level. 
The crojr of a bird shot was completely tilled with the young leaves of the white 
fir. About Glen Alpine, the first young were observed as eaily as the middle of 
lune. On June 7, 1900 a set of seven eggs well advanced in incubation was found 
by one of the employes at Glen Alpine. It was placed in a hole under a fallen 
tree, among ferns. All through the setting time,, and often mucli later, the males 
are heard drumming. T^ater they go to the most elevated regions, spending most 
of their time in the pines and hemlocks, alighting on the ground only long enough 
to feed on the blossoms of lupine, columbine, and Indian paint hrusli (Casii/leja)^ 
together with a small amount of insect food. When tl.e young are hatched the 
mother grouse is notably fearless in decoying the intruder. — W. W. P ] 
Columba fasciata. Band taileil Pigeon. On June 6, 1899 Mr. Welch and I 
observed a flock of these pigeons in the pines near Fyffe. This is my only 
record of their occurrence. 
[Common at many places in the mountains, to at least 6500 feet, their rarity 
or abundance depending on the food supply, hichis chiefly the berries of the inan- 
zanita and scrub oak. I observed a single individual at Glen Alpine, August 15, 
1900. — W. W. P.] 
Zenaidura macroura. Mcmrning Dove. This species is abundant on the 
plains and was observed commonly about Smith Flat. It is doubtful it it is a 
common resident of the pine region. On June ir, 1S98 1 found a nest containin.g 
two fresh eggs, placed in a crotch of a black oak eight feet from the ground. The 
nest was composed wholly of pine needles laid together in a depression and con- 
tained two fresli eggs. 
[Common about Pacific House in freshly harvested grain fields June 28, 1897 
and a single pair was observed at vSlippery Ford a few days later. They are rare 
about Lake Tahoe, but several were shot at the north end ot the lake, in dry 
meadows Aug. i, 1900. — W. W. P.] 
