the digger pine, Douglas fir, oaks, ceanothus and poison oak. After some cold, snowy days, the weather was delightful and we put in two weeks here, devoting most of the time to getting small mammals, but meanwhile collecting and observing birds.
From Helena we went back by way of Weaverville and stopped off at Tower House, in Shasta County, at the lower end of Clear Creek valley and about eighteen miles from Redding. It stormed during most of our week's stay but we managed to get enough specimens to keep busy. Asa result of the trip we have decided that winter collecting in the. mountains is very enjoyable as well as very much worth while.
All of the specimens were collected for the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California, and the numbers where cited are those of the bird collection in that institution.
Oreortyx picta picta. Mountain Quail. Quite numerous at Helena on dry, brushy south slopes. Specimens taken, nos. 17299–17302, are distinctly of the coast form.
Lophortyx californica vallicola. Valley Quail. One flock was seen each time we passed a certain wild rose thicket on the road, near a ranch about four miles above Helena. The one specimen taken, no. 17303, is unquestionably vallicola. At Tower House they came close around the buildings and were seen feeding with the chickens.
Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus. Sooty Grouse. Some were seen on the high ridges at Helena by the trapper, Mr. Knowles; but the two specimens obtained, nos. 17304, 17305, were sent by him from Hay Fork, in the southern part of the county, after our return. These specimens are clearly of the northwest coast race.
Astur atricapillus striatulus. Western Goshawk. One adult specimen, no. 17306, sent in from Hay Fork by Mr. Knowles.
Dryobates villosus hyloscopus. Cabanis Woodpecker. An example, no. 17307, was shot by one of the men in the orchard at Helena.
Dryobates pubescens gairdneri. Gairdner Woodpecker. Two specimens taken, one, no. 17308, at Helena, and one,no. 17309, at Tower House; in size and dark coloration of the breast these both resemble more closely typical gairdneri than the lighter form turati.
Sphyrapicus ruber daggetti. Red-breasted Sapsucker. Reported common during the summer, the trees in the orchard bearing abundant evidence of their presence. Two specimens taken at Helena, nos. 17310, 17311.
Phloeotomus pileatus abieticola. Northern Pileated Woodpecker. One was seen by Mr. Knowles at Helena, and he afterwards sent in one from Hay Fork.
Colaptes cafer collaris. Red-shafted Flicker. Very common at Tower House where they fed on the ground in the orchard.
Sayornis nigricans. Black Phoebe. Only one seen, at Tower House, March 2.;
Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis. Sierra Nevada Jay. Not particularly numerous. The two taken, nos. 17316, 17317, at Helena, are not exactly frontalis, being clearly intermediate in coloration towards carbonacea.
Aphelocoma californica. California Jay. Only two or three noted.
Hesperiphona vespertina montana. Western Evening Grosbeak. We saw none at all ourselves but on our return through Weaverville Mr. Hupp gave us one specimen which he had shot out of a large flock in the trees in front of his house. He had been born and raised in Weaverville, and had been in all parts of the
