lO8 BULLETIN OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. Gunn. [Mr. Stephens was the first to find it in the coast region of California, in I883 or earlier]". I sent the specimen to Mr. Stephens at Witch Creek, San Diego Co., for further reference and he generously contributed the following notes, and re- marks that the specimen appears to be in the normal male plumage. Mr. Stephens says: "All my notes and ref- erences are at San Diego so I cannot give you as definite information as I would like to. In a general way this species is more or less distributed over the brush-covered hillsides (chenfisal) of Southern California, between i,ooo and 3,000 feet altitude. They appear in the latter part of March. By the end of June the song ceases, or nearly so. As they are retiring in habit, the song is the principal clue to their pres- ence. I cannot say just how late the species remains but I doubt many birds being here after the first of August, perhaps none. "The farthest north I have seen this species is near Independence, Inyo Co. (see Fisher's Report on the Ornithology of the Death Valley Expedition). The nest and eggs are of the usual Xpizella character; the nest is placed in low bushes in the thick chemisal and May is the principal nesting month. I have seen small companies of fewer than a dozen birds in the migration, but usually not more than one or two pairs inhabit any one hillside. I do not consider the species common any- where and there are large areas an southern California where it does not occur." Echoes I:rom An Outing. ? MEMORY OF THE SIERRAS. e N a bright morning in early June )a trio 'of the Cooper Club con- sisting of Mr. Barlow, Mr. Carri- ger and the deponent set out from Placerville, the old "Hangtown" of blessed memory, and took our way Up over the old stage road toward the divide. A pair of handsome "bays" re- lieved us of physical exertion and the blistering heat of the lower valleys was tempered by the mountain altitudes. Every breeze was redolent with the o- dors of conifers, while the broad sxveeps of the mountain suburbs were a contin- ual revelation of fresh and inspiring scenery. Our attention is early and often called to the substantial pavement with which Nature has invested the highway and hills, and to the superfluous materials left scattered about. But even these un- gentle reminders are not devoid of sen- timent, for was it not over these rocks that Horace Greeley made his flying record behind the relentless whip of Hank Monk? The incident is dim in the shadow of more important events connected with the old highway, but in the light of experience the solemn con- viction remains that here the seeds of lingering dissolution were planted in the tangled viscera of the great journal- ist. Tradition tells us that over this trail came many of the Argonauts of '49 and bands of gold-hunters who foilowed in succeeding years. When the hidden treasures of the old Comstock were un- folded to the world, the old trail was converted into a chartered thoroughfare and carried the products and supplies of that historic mining camp. No suburb- an avenue on the continent could then rival it in value and magnitude of its traffic and old residents, with watery eyes and far-away look, still delight to tell of those halcyon years when the road was crowded with a moving pro- cession of dusty nmles and ponderous trains, of flying stages and hurrying equipages and all the turinoil of con- gested business to be found where gold is prevalent. But the sentiment is all of the past! When the heart of the great industry ceased to beat, associated enterprises died for want of nourish- anent. A few lumber-laden teams from an adjacent mill plod up and down in monotonous routine. The wandering cainper urges his weary mules toward the clear waters
- [It is proper to here mention that the locality whence
Mr. Welch gleaued the observations that have entered into his dehghtful "reverie," is Fyffe, E1 Dorado Co:, Cal., a:point on the Lake Tahoe Road, which has of late years become a favorite sojom-ning point for numerous members of the Cooper Club. It is most interesting to note the impressions which are inspired iu one who does not give his time wholly to the fascinations of ornithology while in the field, as do most of the workers who have visited Fyffe in the stunmet. Mr. Welch's keen and ready wit and generous good nature were pleasing l'eatures of the outing, as one may judge who totlows through the sketch. ED.].
