170 
Von. XI 
THE_CONDOR 
country they select for a breeding place, it would be comparatively easy to locate 
their nests in the proper season. 
The most conspicuous bird about us was the Rock Wren, and altho I found an 
occasional nest in a niche or crevice of a rock wall or boulder, their favorite haunts 
about the mines were the entrances to old diggings, shafts and tunnels where 
between the timbers and the wall was afforded fine shelter for a nest. In such 
places I found several nests, but all vacated. The birds were tame and would 
frequently roost between the rafters of our cabin. One little fellow was bold 
enough to come thru the roof of our kitchen and help himself to anything in his 
line. He seemed to know just the right time to call, for when I would return from 
the mine to prepare lunch, I would invariably get a glimpse of his tail feathers 
disappearing thru a hole in the roof; and the tell-tale footprints in the ‘ 'hold- 
overs” of the previous meal gave evidence of the Rock Wren's doings. Many 
good things have been said of this bird and he is certainly deserving of them. His 
pleasing characteristics and inspiring song helpt much to leave me a pleasant mem- 
ory of the comparative desolation of Long Tom. 
Poso Creek, about three miles from Long Tom as the crow flies, is the real 
mecca for bird life of this region. At a point directly at the foot of the Long Tom 
gulch is the most picturesque part, as it passes thru a narrow gorge with perpen- 
dicular cliffs rising some three or four hundred feet in places. Huge boulders 
which in some decay have slid or dropt from the hills above, form the creek bed, 
and together with a thick growth of sycamores and cottonwoods with their hand- 
some foliage, make a picture one would hardly imagine seeing in the dry barren 
country that bounds the creek on either side. A miniature stream with just 
enough water to give one a satisfactory drink, trickles down the rocky formation of 
the creek bed, but eventually disappears in the sand where it leaves the gorge. 
From here on, the trees and thickets of blackberry vines, impenetrable patches 
of nettles and other underbrush, mark its course thru the buttes and mesas to the 
San Joaquin Valley. And from the pine wood country at its source at Poso Flat, 
to its termination in the San Joaquin, is a stretch of collecting ground that should 
reveal some surprizes for the ornithologist. 
Thru the kindness of Mr. Grinnell the identity of a few species taken was 
made certain, particularly the new record for the Black-throated Sparrow. The 
following list includes a majority of the birds seen in the region of Long Tom. 
Oreortyx pictus plumiferus. Mountain Quail. One was flusht on Pine Moun- 
tain three miles north of Long Tom. The species is very rarely seen as low as this, 
but is plentiful in the Greenhorn Range. 
Lophortyx californicus vallicola. Valley Quail. Abundant, more so than I 
have ever seen them elsewhere in California. Not seen south of Poso Creek. 
Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Mourning Dove. Plentiful, breeding any- 
where near water. 
Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Turkey Vulture. Common. 
Accipiter cooperi. Cooper Hawk. Seen once near Poso Creek. 
Buteo borealis calurus. Western Red-tail. Common everywhere. 
Buteo swainsoni. Swainson Hawk. Seen once. 
Aquila chrysaetos. Golden Eagle. One day I saw a pair making great 
sweeps toward the earth from a terrific hight. They were almost directly above me 
and the performance was the greatest spectacle of flight I have everwitnest. They 
would poise for a second, close their wings and then shoot downward like meteors 
for a hundred feet or more; then swerve up, repeating the same thing over and 
over until they reacht terra firma. It seemed as tho they just did it for fun, one 
