Nov., 1901. I 
THE CONDOR 
169 
the Five-mile House where a large cattle corral affords typical surroundings. Ob- 
served in Fake Valley during June 1901. 
[Common about Wright’s Fakes near Pyramid Peak, 7000 feet, where they 
nest in pines along the lake shore. Observed April 19, 1897 at Slippery Ford, 
where thej^ had evidently already paired. — W. W. P.] 
Coccothraustes vespertinus montanus. Western Evening Grosbeak. bird of 
apparently local distribution in the mountains, nowhere being abundant. Mr. 
Beck shot several at Fyffe June 10, 1-896, but these were probably belated mi- 
grants passing up to higher altitudes. The first authentic nest and eggs of this 
species was secured by Mr. Beck in June 1896 at 5,000 feet elevation on a moun- 
tain-side. The nest wms built in a black oak and w'as fairly conspicuous. It was 
composed of small .sticks substantially lined wdlh rootlets and contained four eggs. 
These resembled eggs of the eastern pine grosbeak more closely than those of anj^ 
other species. Fora complete account of the taking of this set see A^idologist, IV, 
/). j>, September, 1896. In June 1900 a small flock of w’estern evening grosbeaks 
was observed above Slippery Ford, drinking from a small stream which flowed 
acrossthe road. At Echo on June 14, 1901 a pair were observed among the red 
firs on a meadow' and seemed to be engaged in nest Iruilding, but their movements 
could not be traced. A sharp, musical note is given at intervals, it seeming to be 
the same note uttered by the birds while in the valley in winter. 
Pinicola enucleator californica. California Pine Grosbeak. Seemingly a spec- 
ies of irregular distribution, not occurring below 6,000 or 7,000 feet. On June 9, 
1900 Mr. Atkinscm and 1 came across a beautiful male in a bog on the b'orni mea- 
dow'. The bird w-as very tame and was probably nesting in the vicinity. At this 
place the red firs hold numerous accumulations of needles about the size of a nest, 
which would render the hication of a nest difficult excepting by watching the 
bird. Several other specimens were seen at this point and a male collected. On 
June 14, i9or at Phillip’s .station near the summit the keeper described the pine 
grosbeak to me and mentioned Fiat three of the birds were ([uartered in the house 
wh.en he moved up a few days before. A de.scription of this subspecies and an 
account of its habits may be found in the “Auk” Vol. XIV, p. 182. 
Carpodacus purpureus californicus. California Purple Finch. A common 
species up to at least as far as Slippery Ford. Specimens collected at Fyffe and 
Slippery f<'ord, several of the male birds being in the grayish plumage. This 
species must nest commonly in this region, although 1 know of no nests having 
been taken. Mr. Carriger located a nest at Fyfte in 1899 placed well out on a 
high limb of a yellow pine, the nest being concealed by the needles. It was im- 
practicable to attempt to collect the set and no effort w'as made to do so. This and 
the following species are among the most charming songsters of the forest, their 
full, rich warble floating dow'ti from the tall pines in the early morning with ex- 
(piisite sweetness. 
[Collected Julv 24, 1900 at (jlen Alpine. Rare on the east sloije of the 
vSierras.--W. W. P.] 
Carpodacus cassini. Cassin Purple Phneh. Common from Fyffe to the sum- 
mit, having similar habits to the preceding species. Specimens were collected at 
various points along the road, many males being still in the gray plumage. On 
June 9, 1900 flocks of this species were found, feeding along the edge of the snow 
on Pyramid Peak, and near the Fourteen-mile House a number were observed 
feeding in a clover field. A number were observed in Fake Valley near 'I'allac on 
June 15, 1901. 
Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis. House Finch. A number w'ere observed 
