82 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XV 
While roaming over the mountain side at various times previous to the snow 
fall, no less than ten Calaveras W^arbiers expressed anxiety and disapproval of 
my presence when trespassing near their chosen nesting sites. Careful watching 
revealed two nests under process of construction. After the snow fall, I searched 
over the same ground on many occasions, and, as no warblers were heard or seen 
that could be identified as this species, I am of the opinion that all, or nearly all, 
perished in the catastrophe of June 23. 
An apparent loss was only noticeable in three other varieties of birds. The 
fairly common Western Tanager was probably reduced in numbers one-third. 
Three pairs of Olive-sided Flycatchers had selected home sites at a distance of 
one half mile of each other. One had a nest more than eighty feet up on a hori- 
zontal branch of an immense fir ; the others undoubtedly had nests concealed in 
dense foliage of lofty cedars. As but one bird was observed between June 22 
and July 9, I surmise that the snow proved fatal to the others, for birds having 
such chstinctive notes could hardly be overlooked by a person searching for them. 
Eig. 22. Cisco, Cai.iforni.'^, from the hotel grounds; photo taken about 
8 A. M., JUNE 30, 1912; Two hours later the trees were nearly 
FREE of snow 
P hoto by Mrs, W. W. Cooley 
For a week previous to June 22, 1 daily noticed a flock of six to seven Pine 
Siskins around the hotel barn. One fell a victim to the house cat; and the others 
vanished a day later. I might attribute their total disappearance to the cat and 
the snow, but I am inclined to believe that they moved on to a better feeding- 
ground to establish a summer home; for a favorite food of the Siskin is the un- 
ripe seed of the dandelion. 
The above mentioned cat was very destructive to bird life. He was seen to 
jump and catch a male Northern Violet-green Swallow as it flew over the croquet 
ground. He was also seen to stealthily approach and make an unsuccessful 
spring at a Pacific Nighthawk resting on the bare earth at the side of a mountain 
trail ; and he was often found prowling beneath brushy thickets in search of 
prey. 
As one cannot accuratelv estimate the mortality among adult birds, I merely 
state facts actually observed. This census of nests, found by the writer between 
