Nov., 1901. I 
THK CONDOR 
175 
Ampelis cedrorum. Cedar Waxwing. Recorded by Mr. Chas. A. Swisler at 
Placerville as an occasional winter visitant, going about in flocks of 25 or 30 birds. 
Lanius ludovicianus gambeli. California Shrike. Observed by Mr. Chas. A. 
Swisler about Placerville. 
Vireo gilvus. Warbling Vireo. This species is common in summer at Fyft'e 
and was also heard on tiie Forni meadow at 7,500 feet altitude in June, 1900. 
One nest was found in a small black oak at Fyft’e on June 15, 1S97 containing 
eggs. Tliis nest did not differ in anywise from nests found in the valley. 
Vireo solitarius cassini. Cassin Vireo. The most common vireo of the 
Sierras, being usuall}' found on the edge of clearings where it is partial to the 
black oaks, from which it principalh' obtains its food supply. The nests are sus- 
pended from drooping limbs of the oaks, and the sharp, expressive note of the 
parent bird frequentl}' is uttered on the nest, the male responding; but more often 
the male bird will remain in or near the nesting tree while he sings. P'our eggs 
is the usual complement, although I have twice found five eggs or young. The 
nests are invariably covered exteriorly with flakes of a white cocoon found in 
the woods, and the habit is as constant with this species as is the use of moss by 
Hutton vireo in its nest-building. Fresh eggs may be found at various altitudes 
through June, and are large for the size of the bird. Nesting dates at P'yffe are 
as follows; June 17, 1897, incubated eggs, nest three feet up in black oak 
bush; June 20, nest with five half-grown young, five feet up in drooping black 
oak; June 9, a nest and four incubated eggs, suspended from black oak limb 
seven feet up; June 15, nest containing four fresh eggs, placed twelve feet up on 
drooping limb of black oak; June 6, 1900 a nest and five incubated eggs, ten feet 
up on drooping black oak limb. 
[Rare in (Hen Alpine except during the early migration of the young, when 
tlie\" are ver}’ common, being as.sociated with warblers and often chipping spar- 
rows and juncos. W. W. P.] 
Vireo huttoni. Hutton Vireo. Heard commonly at P’yffe and several 
specimens shot during June. The pine region seems scarcely a suitable habitat 
for this species, but it evidently nests. It would be interesting to know whether 
or not the bird’s custom of finishing the outside of its nest with moss as followed 
in the valley and foothills is here carried out. If so, the use of the brightly-col- 
(.red moss {Eveniia) would lend a handsome effect to the nest. 
Helminthophila rubricapilla gutturalis. Calaveras Warbler. This was found 
to be a common species from Fyffe to above Echo, frequenting the deer-brush and 
hillsides of Ccaiwthus cord/. fatus, whence came its distinctive song. Although the 
Species is far fn m rare in numbers, it appears that but comparative!} few of its 
nests have been taken, but this is not strange when we consider the extent and 
nature of the country selected for nesting sites, ft is usually by the merest 
chance that a nest is discovered, as successful a method as any being to beat 
through the “mountain misery” in the vicinity of where the male bird is found 
singing. Mr. Lyman Belding found several nests of this warbler at Big Trees 
farther south in the range. In 1896 Mr. Wilfred H. C).sgood collected two sets of 
five eggs each, one at P'yffe and one near vSlippery Ford. The taking of these 
two sets is described at length in Ifie Nidologist (HI, ]). 140). On June 9, 1899 ^ 
flu-shed a Calaveras warbler from her nest in the tar-weed beneath a small cedar 
at Fyffe, at which date the nest held five half-grown young. Again at h’yfife on 
May 21, 1900 Mr. Taylor found a nest ami five fresh eggs on the bank of a small 
ditch flowing out of the forest. The nest measured three inches outside diameter 
and was composed of weed-stems, gra.sses and a small (juantity of bark. It was 
