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Show 1316 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 7. Parus montanus ( Gamb.).- Mountain Chickadee. Appears to be the only other representative of the family in this region. A con stant resident of the pineries. SITTID. E. 8. Sitta Caroline* sti 6m.; var. aculeata, Cass.- Slender- billed Nuthatch. An abundant resident of the pine timber. 9. Sitta pygmcea Vig.- Pygmy Nuthatch. The most abundant of the tribe, keeping exclusively in the pines, among which they wander in large flocks. CERTHIHXE. 10. Certhia familiarU L., var. amerioana, Bon.- American Creeper. Only a few seen, and these among the pines. SYLVICOLID. E. 11. Helminthophaga aetata Say, var. lutescens Ridgw.- Western Orange- crowned Warbler. This variety was found rather common during September about Lake Tahoe, frequenting chiefly the brushy thickets on the mountain sides. It probably breeds all • along the eastern slope. 12. Dmdroica audubonii ( Towns.).- Audubon's Warbler. The only numerously represented species of the family. Not, I think, nearly as abundant as in the Rocky Mountains at the corresponding season. Keeping generally in the pines, but also seizing much of its food from the ground. TANAGRHXE. 13. Pyranga ludovioiana ( Wils.).- Louisiana Tanager. A very much belated individual of this species was seen September 18. The species had passed south long before. AMPELID. E. 14. Myiadeetts townaendii ( And.).- Townsend's Solitaire. None seen till the first days of October; after this, small companies were occasionally noted in various localities through the mountains. Probably more or less pass the summer on the higher summits* FRINGILLID- aE. 15. Carpodocua oastini Bd.- Casein's Purple Finch. In September this Finch was not uncommon about Lake Tahoe. After which none were seen, the species having migrated. It is a summer resident in this region. 16. Melospiza melodia var. heermannii ( Bd.).- Heermann's Song Sparrow. Quite rare among the mountains. Occasionally one seen in October in the thickets along the streams. All examples of the Song Sparrow I have seen from this region, while referable to the above variety, yet mark quite a decided step in the advance towards the central region form, the M. var. fallax. They are not so dark colored as specimens from the • California coast, and the bills appear to be somewhat slenderer, approximating in these particulars to fallax. 17. Junco oregonus ( Towns.).- Oregon Snowbird. Very abundant everywhere. I presume this hardy species winters in the mountains; at least many remain till the snow falls to a considerable depth. • 18. Zonotrichia leucoprya ( Forst.), var. intermedia Ridgw.- Western White- crowned Sparrow. This bird was found by Mr. Ridgway breeding abundantly on the eastern slope. It |