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58 THE CONDOR Vol. XVI possibilities of the region; for the few hours afield showed a wealth and variety of bird-life that few sections of the great woodland can equal. If I lacked personal familiarity with the region and its bird-life, I was fully acquainted with the work that had been done by others. Besides Barlow's fa- ?nous ?aper, "The Birds of the Placerville-Lake Tahoe Stage Road", I had care- fully perused all other available bird. literature on the region, and through the kindness of Mr. Henry W. Carriger I had also the opportunity of studying the daily field notes of Pemberton and Cartiger covering a considerable period. A decided disappoir/tment, however, was Carriger's parting injunction as I left San Francisco on May ?2: "You're too early, Ray, I think, for nests of the Hermit Warbler. I wouldn't advise spending much time in search of them"; for I frank- ly admit the quest of avjan rarities has always held for me a peculiar attraction. It is a rather long trip to Placerville, and I had ampie time to read and re- read Fyffe bird literature on the way. In glad surprise I stumbled upon this note on the Hermit Warbler, previously overlooked in Barlow's paper: "A nest containing young about four days old .... at Fyffe on June t t, ?897", and I saw a chance existed, although rather remote, that after all I might still be in proper season to find a nest of that famous rara avi, of Fyffian woodlands. The train had now left the Sacramento Valley far to the west and by a tor- tuous route was toiling slowly through the winding canyons of the foothills. On gaining a sparsely wooded summit we were afforded a rare view of the distant and heavily timbered Sierran ranges, with Pyramid and other dazzling, snow- covered peaks towering in the back-ground. Placerville was reached in the afternoon, but old friends luring me to a ham- mock swung in the shade of cherry trees, the bird-life out in the hot sun on the adjacent hillsides was left unmolested and unchronicled. Early next morning, however, bird-song and balmy air without, had me abroad at four o'clock, and ..before the stage left at 6:45 ^. ;?.'I had time to venture some distance out of the town itself, to cross a number of grassy fields, wet with dew, to ford a small stream and reach a group of scattered oaks, and later a thicket of pines on a steep hillside. Altogether, I noted fifteen different species; among them and exceed- ing all others in interest and rarity was a flock of ten Cedar Waxwings (Born- bycilla cedrorum) in a line of khorny roadside trees. While waiting for the stage I noted the old-time colony of Western Mar- tins (Progne ,ubis hesperia) circling about the eaves of the .Cary House, or sweeping through the village streets melodiously twittering, just as I have seen them in numerous seasons before, just as Barlow, with graphic pen, describes them, and, perhaps, just as they did in the golden days of '49 when this little mountain town was the cynosure of all eyes. By one day I had missed the through stage, which goes at this season as far as Ecl?o, at the base of the main Sierran summit; but I was enabled by another line to go on to Camino from where, leaving nay equipment to be forwarded, I walked on leisurely to Fyffe. Arriving at ?o:?5 ^. ?t., I registered at that fa- mous 'hostelry of Welch's "Sierran Echoes", Sportsman's Hall; and, as it was still some time until noon, I had opportunity before lunch to tak& a short walk in the immediate vicinity. ? Western Lark Sparrow (Chondestes g?'c, nmacus strigatus) flushed from her nest in an apple tree, and disclosing three scrawly- marked eggs, led off the season's tale, while near at hand was a newly built nest of the Western Chipping Sparrow (Spizella socialis arizonae), and one of the Western Robin (Plancsticus migratorius propinq.mts) with three eggs. Homely finds, rather savoring of youthful experiences, yet still of value as indicative of