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Show APPENDIX NN. 1315 PODICIPIDiE. 96. Podloeps ( uEcmophorus) occidental ™ Lawr.- Western Grebe. Breeds abundantly in Washoe Lake. The yonng still in the down were taken Angnst 31. One of the main subgeneric characters of this bird is the absence of colored raffs or other nuptial ornaments about the head during the breeding season, it thus forming a striking exception to the general rule obtaining in the family. The young, the first I believe ever taken, are now before me, from the above locality. They scarcely need description, more than that conveyed in the general statement that in the distribution of colors they almost exactly resemble the old birds. In this respect they seem to carry out the peculiarities of their parents, inasmuch as the young of the other grebes are all, so far as I am aware, curiously streaked or mottled in their first or downy plumage. LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED ON THE EASTERN SLOPE OF THE SIERRAS, NEAR CARSON CITY, NEVADA, FROM SEPT. 16 to NOV. 7 J WITH NOTES. TURDID. E. 1. Tardus migraiorius L., var. propinquua Ridgw.- Nevada Robin. During the month of September the Robins began to be rather numerous along the mountain sides, the number of those resident here during the summer having doubtless been increased by the arrival of birds reared farther to the north, while they were rendered more oonspionous from the fact of their having flocked. Iu early November they were seen in great flocks at different localities, where were found various kinds of wild berries. The majority of these birds, if not all, pass farther south to winter. * 2. Tardus ncevfas Gm.- Varied Thrush. A male of this species which I saw coufiued in a cage in a store in Carson City was said by the owner to have been captured during the previous spring in the adjoining mountains. For this statement I cannot vouch, but give it for what it is worth. This thrush has never been recorded from any locality east of the Sierras; yet there seems to be no reason why during the migrations, as in the case of other birds possessing a similar summer habitat, the species may not occur along the eastern slope. That it actually does so, however, remains to be proven. SAXICOLID. E. 3. Sialia mexicana Sw.- Mexican Bluebird. Daring the month of September and early October this species was rather numerous among the pines at an elevation of about 7,000 feet. After this fewer were seen, a partial emigration having perhaps taken place, or, as is more likely, the species having retired from the high altitudes to the valleys, where they winter in considerable numbers. 4. Sialia arctioa Sw.- Arctic Bluebird. At the time the preceding species began to diminish in numbers the present bird attracted attention by a corresponding iucrease, and it soon almost wholly represeuted the other in the mountain region. Tbey wiuter among the pines and iu the brushy ravines, forming a close association with the Titmioe, Nuthatches, etc. SYLVIIDJE. 5. Regulus calendula ( L,).- Ruby- crowned Kinglet. Abundant during the fall months among the pines, sometimes in small companies of their own species, but more often distributing themselves, by twos and threes among the flocks of winter birds. PARID. K. 6. Lophophanes inomatus ( Gamb.).- Plain Titmouse. A resident, but not very numerous. Inclined to favor with it* presence the cedar and pi& on hills rather than the pine region proper, from which, however, it is not entirely absent. |
