Jan., 1905 
THE CONDOR 
19 
specimens collected along the east slope of the Sierra Nevada [near Olancha, Inyo 
county] in Owens Valley are almost intermediate, both in size and color, between 
Amphispiza belli and Amphispiza belli nevadensis." Dr. Fisher cites the same in- 
stance later (Auk, XV, April 1898, p. 190) as an argument against my contention 
that nevadensis is a distinct species from belli. Through the courtesy of Dr. Fisher 
I have just been enabled to examine these specimens, and I find they are unques- 
tionably referable to canescens, thus indicating the range of this form further 
northward. Their measurements are very slightly greater than those of my 
series of canescens previously presented, which points toward a possibility of inter- 
osculation between canescens and nevadensis still further north along the Sierras. 
But as I have already emphasized there is not yet the least evidence that canescens 
grades into belli geographically. This is the identical point of my contention in 
1898, as above referred to; then 1 had specimens of catiescens in hand, calling them 
nevadensis as labeled by an eastern authority. It is therefore only under protest 
that I use the combination Amphispiza belli canescens , instead of Amphispiza 
nevadensis ca?iescens. 
Notes From Flathead, 1904 
BY P. M. SI I.T.OWAY 
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR 
I T had been reported to me by reliable observers that the varied thrush was 
nesting in the Flathead region of Montana, but I did not succeed in establish- 
ing the fact for record until this season. In the summer of 1903 I took adult 
specimens of the varied thrush ( Ixorens ncevius) at Swan Lake, about eight miles 
from Flathead Lake, and in the same summer collected a young thrush at Flathead 
which evidently had been out of the nest about two weeks. In 1904, however, I 
succeeded in finding a nest of this thrush. 
It came about in this way. Just across the Swan River from the University of 
Montana Biological Station there is a patch of undisturbed woodland used as a 
club ground for sportsmen. A road through this woodland is used daily by 
people who have settled in the neighborhood of the club grounds. Near the gate 
opening into the grounds is a by-path, along which I generally entered the 
grounds, as it is more shady and offered better facilities for collecting. Now on 
June 25, while passing along the woods road, I chanced upon a fledgling varied 
thrush which had left the nest but was yet unable to fly. I caught it with my 
hands as it hopped among the weeds at the edge of the woods. This event 
seemed quite singular to me, for the natives had told me that this thrush nests 
very early in the season; here was indisputable evidence, however, that the varied 
thrush was nesting in this particular piece of woods, and at a comparatively late 
time of the season. On July 5, I took another young varied thrush along the same 
road, near the place where I had taken the first specimen. This bird was flying 
about independently, though it was likely one of the brood to which the first be- 
longed. Thinking that the varied thrush season for nesting had closed, I gave no 
time to looking for nests; and of course the nest was found by accident. 
It was on July 12. On that day, instead of following the somber by-path, I 
entered the club grounds through the gate by the roadway. When scarcely 
