247 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
28 
9 ad. 
9 jun. 
9 jun. 
Los Angeles, Cal. 
June 17 
H. W. Henskaw. 
Do. 
309 
Fort Tejou, Cal. 
Aug. 7 
310 
_do. 
Aug. 7 
Do. 
332 
9 jun. 
9 jun. 
d jun. 
_do. 
Aug. 9 
Do. 
333 
_do. 
Aug. 9 
Do. 
425 
Walker’s Basin. 
Aug. 27 
Do. 
• 
76. Cyanospiza amocna, (Say).—Lazuli Finch. 
This Finch, so much like the Indigo-bird in voice and habits, entirely replaces that 
species in the far west. Its organization seems to unfit it for a residence iu high lati¬ 
tudes, and it also shuns the bracing air of the mountains, not occurring, according to 
Mr. Trippe, higher than 8,000 feet, an altitude at which 1 have never seen it. It is 
found in great abundance in the sheltered valleys, living for the most part along the 
streams, but at any rate the locality chosen must be more or less grown up to brush 
and bushes, among which it places its nest and speuds the greater part of the time. 
77. Pipilo maculatu8, (Swains.), var. megalonyx, Bd.—Long-spurred Towhee. 
This Pipilo is spread in great numbers over the southern half of California, ranging 
from the shrubbery of the lowlauds well up on the mountains. Ou Santa Cruz Island 
it was one of the most numerously represented species; indeed, the surface of this island, 
broken aud cut up iu every direction by ridges and corresponding ravines, and every¬ 
where covered with chaparral, forms just the abode suited to the habits of this bird. 
Accordingly, I think I never saw in a limited area such numbers of these birds, their 
mewiug calls soundiug iu all directions. They are probably resident in Southern Cali¬ 
fornia, where, too, their numbers in fall are still further swelled by additions from more 
inclement regions farther north. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
256 
d jun. 
9 ad. 
d 
d ad. 
d 
d jun. 
d jun. 
d 
9 
Fort Tejon, Cal .. 
July 27 
Aug. — 
Aug. 17 
H. W. Henskaw 
Do. 
Do. 
267 
284 
Tejon Mountains, Cal.... 
.do. 
370 
.do. .. 
Aug. 17 
Do. 
375 
.do. 
Aug. 17 
Aug. 18 
Do. 
397 
.do. 
Do. 
398 
.do. 
Aug. 19 
Do. 
406 
.do. 
Do. 
647 
Walker’s Basin, Cal... 
Nov. 5 
Do. 
692 
9 
d jun. 
Jun. 
.do. 
Nov. 10 
Do. 
743 
Tejon Mountains, Cal. 
Aug. 2 
Do. 
744 
.do. 
Aug. — 
Do. 
78. Pipilo /asciis, Swains., var. crissalis, Ridgw.—Brown Finch. 
This Finch was found by our parties in great abundance from San Francisco south¬ 
ward. The appellation Canon Finch is not a very happy one, since it would suggest 
a preference for the rocky canons, an inference by no means borne out by the habits of 
the bird. It is indeed an inhabitant of the mountains, beiug there, however, partial 
to the open thickets on the slopes, rather than to the recesses of the ravines. More¬ 
over, it is found in much greater numbers iu the level country and low valleys. In 
essential particulars it is a true Pipilo, having many of the habits common to the birds 
of this family, but especially resembles the var. mesolencus from the southern interior 
region, its mode of life beiug indeed almost identical with that of this bird, except in 
so far as it has been modified to suit the somewhat different nature of the region it 
inhabits. It is never found far from cover, though venturing into the open ot'tener 
and to a greater distance than is the case with the shyer, more retiring, black Pipilos. 
Its whole nature seems to be more reliant, and in some places I have seen them ven¬ 
turing to the very door of the houses, and hopping with the utmost freedom about the 
yards, picking up crumbs, in company, perhaps, with their smaller friends, the Snow¬ 
birds. Their liight is better sustained aud less “jerky ” than most of the family, and 
is not so very unlike that of the Sickle-billed Thrush but that, when taken iu connec¬ 
tion with its large size, colors, and its long tail, it may often mislead one as it goes llirt- 
ing through the foliage. When one comes upon them suddenly they throw themselves 
into the nearest clump with all haste, but should a convenient tree be at hand they will 
quickly be seen among the branches, where mounting to some convenient perch they sit 
aud watch the cause of all the trouble, the various individuals meanwhile responding 
