INTRODUCTION 
Ivii 
This area consists of ‘ mountains ’ (Sierra Madre), and ‘ valley ’ (San 
Gabriel). The mountains are divided into spruce-wooded ‘higher 
mountains,’ such as Wilson’s Peak and Mt. Lowe, and brush-cov¬ 
ered ‘foothills.’ The valley is separated into a ‘mesa,’ the dry 
elevated plain sloping down from the foothills ; and the ‘ lowlands,’ 
which include the ‘willow bottoms,’ such as the San Gabriel river 
bed in the neighborhood of El Monte. The ‘ oak regions ’ occupy 
an intermediate area, in places running up on to the foothills. 
In general, as far as I know, it may be said that the ‘ lowlands,’ 
the ‘mesas,’ and tongues extending up into the foothills are Lower 
Sonoran; that the ‘oak regions,’ and ‘foothills,’ and even the hot 
slopes of the highest peaks, are Upper Sonoran ; while the north 
slopes and deep canyons of the ‘ mountains ’ to their summits, within 
the ten mile radius of the list, are mainly Transition, but with a 
trace of Canadian, and \vith such characteristic birds as the mountain 
chickadee, blue-fronted jay, plumed partridge, junco, and slender- 
billed nuthatch. Pasadena itself is Lower Sonoran, having such 
birds as the phainopepla, mockingbird, road-runner, Texas night- 
hawk, and Costa hummingbird. 
/K chnophorus occidentalis: Western Grebe. — Occasional winter visitant 
on the larger ponds. 
Podilymbus podiceps: Pied-billed Grebe.— Fairly common resident on 
tule-margined ponds. 
Gavia imber : Loon. — Frequent in winter on large ponds and reservoirs. 
Larus cali/ornicus: California Gull. — Occasional in winter about ponds 
and streams. 
Phalacrocmrax dilophus albociliatus: Farallone Cormorant.—Frequent in 
winter on the larger ponds. 
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos: American White Pelican. — Occurs in migra¬ 
tion ; also more rarely about ponds in winter. 
Merganser serrator: Red-breasted Merganer — Occasional midwinter 
visitant on the lowlands. 
Anas boschas: Mallard. — Fairly common resident in the vicinity of 
streams and ponds. 
Mareca americana: Baldpate. — Common winter visitant. 
Nettion carolinensis: Green-winged Teal. — Common winter visitant. 
Querquedula cyanoptera: Cinnamon Teal. — Common spring and summer 
visitant on ponds and marshes. ‘ 
Spatula clypeata: Shoveller. — Common winter visitant. 
Erismatura jamaicensis: Ruddy Duck. — Common resident on the larger 
ponds. 
Botaurus lentiginosus: American Bittern. — Common winter visitant on 
marsh lands. 
Ardea herodias: Great Blue Heron.—Common resident in the lower 
country. 
Ardea virescens anthonyi: Anthony Green Heron. — Common migrant about 
streams and ponds. 
