Page:Condor3(6).djvu/32

Nov., ?9o?. I THE CONDOR ?69 the Five-mile House where a large cattle corral affords typical surroundings. Ob- served in Lake Valley during June ?9o?. [Common about Wright's Lakes near Pyrainid Peak, 7o0o feet, where they nest in pines along the lake shore. Observed April ?9, ?897 at Slippery Ford, where they had evidently already paired.--W. W. P.] C0cc0thraustes vespertinus m0ntanus. Western Evening Grosbeak. A bird of apparently local distribution in the mountains, nowhere being abundant. Mr. Beck shot several at Fyffe June ?o, ?896, but these were probably belated mi- grants passing up to higher altitudes. The first authentic nest and eggs of this species was secured by Mr. Beck in June r896 at 5,ooo feet elevation on a moun- tain-side. The nest was built in a black oak and was fairly conspicuous. It was composed of small sticks substantially lined wilh rootlets and contained four eggs. These resembled eggs of the easten pine grosbeak more closely than those of any other species. For a complete account of the taking of this set see A5'dologst', JY, ]5. 3, September, ?896. In June ?9oo a sinall flock of western evening grosbeaks was observed above Slippery Ford, drinking from a small stream which flowed across the road. At Echo on June ?4, ?9o? a pair were observed among the red firs on a meadow and seemed to be engaged in nest building, b'ut their movements could not be traced. A sharp, musical note is given at intervals, it seeming to be the same note uttered by the birds while in the valley in winter. Pinicola enucleat0r calif0rnica. California Pine Grosheak. Seemingly a spe?- iesof irregular distribution, not occurring below 6,000 or 7,ooo feet. On June 9, ?9oo Mr. Atkinson and Icameacrossa beautiful male in abogon the Forni ?nea- dow. The bird was very tame and was probably nesting in the vicinity. At this place the red firs hold nmnerous accumulations of needles about the size of a nest, which would render the It:cation of a nest diffi'cult excepting by watching the bird. Several other specimens were seen at this point and a male collected. On June x4, t9 ox at Phillip's bration near the summit the keeper described the pine grosbeak t? rite and mentit)ned ?l?at three of the birds were quartered in the house when lie moved up a few clays before. A description of this subspecies and an account of its habits may be found in the "Auk" Vol. XIV, p. i82. Carp0clacus purpureus calif0rnicus. California Purple Finch. A common species up to at least as far as Slippery Ford. Specimens collected at Fyffe and- Slippery Ford, several of the male birds being in the grayisil plumage. This species must nest commonly in this region, although I know of no nests having been taken. Mr. Carriger located a nest at Fyl?e in i899 placed well (Jut on a high lia?b of a yellow pine, the nest being concealed by the needles. It was im- practicable to attempt to collect the s?t and no effort was made t(> d? so. This and the following species are among the most charming songsters of the forest, their full, rich warble floating d?wn from the tall pines in the early morning with ex- quisite sweetness. [C<?11ectedJuly 24, i9ooat Glen Alpine. Rare on the east slope of 'the Sierras.--W. W. P.] Gat@aria(us cassini. Cassin Purple Finch. Common from Fyffe to the suni- mir, having similar habits to the preceding species. Specimens were collected at vaiious points along the road, many males being still in the gray plumage. On June 9, ?9 flocks of this species were found feeding along the edge of the snow on Pyramid Peak, and near the Fonrteen-mile House a number were observed feeding in a clover field. A number were observed in Lake Valley near Tallae on June ?5, I9O?. Garp0rlacus mexicanus fr0ntalis. House Finch. A number were obserx, ed