237 
Ampelid^e.—Chatterers. 
46. Phcenopepla nitens, (S\v.).—Black Flycatcher. 
I saw thisspecies on hut few occasions. They are, however, not rare in the southern 
half of the State. They inhabit the bushy canons, and are found much about the 
oaks, upon which they find the berries of the mistletoe. In fall these and other kinds 
of berries form their chief sustenance, varied with insects which they capture on the 
wing. They are among the shyest of the small birds. 
47. Miade8tes townsendi, (Aud.).—Townsend’s Solitaire. 
This species probably resorts to the high mountains, as in the interior region, to pass 
the summer. 1 saw none till in September; when in the Sierras, they appeared here 
and there noiselessly pursuing their avocations. Though usually a bird of very 
unsocial disposition, the abundance of food at any special locality, as berries, attracts 
them in numbers, when they seem inclined to live more or less in company, and in late 
fall are apt to be seen in parties of four or live individuals. They never, however, 
dock, in the strict meaning of the word. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Bill. 
Tarsus. 
464 
d 
Near Mount Whitney, Cal. 
Sept. 26 
H. W. Henshaw. 
4. 45 
4.24 
0. 52 
0.79 
498 
9 
.do. 
Sept. 26 
_do.. 
4. 49 
4. 09 
0. 50 
0. 82 
498 A 
9 
.do. 
Sept. 26 
....do. 
4. 59 
4.15 
0. 47 
0. 83 
499 
h" 
.do.. 
Sept. 26 
_do. 
4. 58 
4. 12 
0. 48 
0. 80 
500 
r? 
..do. 
Sept. 26 
_do. 
4. 57 
4.18 
0. 49 
0. 82 
501 
9 
.do. 
Sept. 26 
....do . 
4. 55 
4.16 
0. 48 
0. 82 
502 
d 
.do. 
Sept. 26 
_do. 
4. 53 
4. 15 
0. 47 
0. 82 
Laniidje.—Shrikes. 
48. Collurio ludovicianus , (L.), var. excubitoroides. —Swain’s Wliite-rumped Shrike. 
This Shrike is numerous in California, where its habits of life throughout appear not 
different from its usual mode of existence elsewhere. As noticed by Professor Baird, in 
his Review, there is observable in the birds from the west coast an appreciable difference 
from those of the interior, which latter represent what may be called the normal type of 
coloration of the var. excubitoroides. In our specimens from California the ash above is 
darker, the hoariness of the forehead of less extent, the white of scapulars more restricted. 
All the specimens, however, taken on the mainland have the white rum}) clearly defined. 
In this connection, two young birds in nesting plumage taken on Santa Cruz Island are 
especially noteworthy. These appear in all respects to be typical ludovicianus. In 
the depth of the plumbeus shade above and along the sides, in the lack of any hoari¬ 
ness on the forehead, and, above all, in the absence of any whiteness of the rump, this 
being like the back, they exactly resemble young birds from Florida. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
87 
9 
Santa Barbara, Cal... 
June 26 
H. W. Henshaw 
205 
9 jun. 
d jun. 
.do... 
J uly 6 
Do. 
467 
Near Mount Whitney, Cal.. 
Do. 
750 
.do. 
Do. 
625 
9 
Kernville, Cal. 
Oct. 27 
Do. 
Ludovicianus. 
15 
d 
d 
Santa Cruz Island, Cal. 
June 10 
Do. 
16 
.do. 
June 10 
Do. 
Tanagridje.— 1 Tanagers. 
49. Pyranya ludoviciana, (Wils.).—Louisiana Tanager. 
In one of the small canons issuing from the mountains near Santa Barbara I found 
several of these Tanagers in July, at which time they were feeding their young. Else¬ 
where in Southern California they were most unaccountably rare, and, all told, I do 
not think I saw over a dozen during the entire summer. Probably the bulk of their 
numbers pass farther north to breed. 
