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Show 1320 BEPOET OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 43. Circus cyaneus L., var. hudsonius L.- Marsh Hawk. Present in the meadows through the mountains, and though not nearly so numerous as below, it is still common. 41. Bttleo borealis ( Gmel.), var. calurus Cass.- Western Red- tailed Hawk. Abundant. With this hawk, as is the case with most of the species, a change of habitat is made necessary in the late fall, when snow and severe weather cause the disappearance of the small mammals, reptiles, and other game upon which it preys. They then move down into the valleys and remain about the lakes, where not only are found an abundance of water fowl, but where the mai'shes afford them an unfailing supply of certain small rodents through the season. 45. Archibuteo lagopus ( Brunn.), var. sancti- johannis.- Rough- legged Buzzard. Very numerous. In early November, in a meadow of considerable size not far from Lake Tahoe, I found that scores of this hawk had congregated. From one to half a dozen were visible at any hour of the day, sweeping with heavy wing over the surface of the turfy ground, and now and then dropping with almost certain aim upon one of the small Meadow Rats ( Arvicola riparius) whose excavations honeycombed the ground in all directions, and whose immense numbers accounted for the unusual abundance of the hawks at this one locality. 46. Jquila chrysdetus ( L.)- Golden Eagle. Apparently rather more numerous in this region than the succeeding bird. 47. Halicetu* lencocephalus ( L.)- Bald Eagle. Rather rare. In fact eagles are rarely abundant in any portion of the west which I have visited, and the Bight of one is an event of sufficiently unusual occurrence to attract the attention and elicit comment from the most unobservant of a party. The white- headed is muoh more numerous as an inhabitant of either coast than as a bird of the interior. TETRAONID. E. 48. Canace obscurus ( Say.)- Dusky Grouse. The whole pine- timbered region lying along the eastern slope of the Sierras west of the Carson Valley, was formerly the home of very great numbers of this fine bird. Some of the stories told by the early settlers of its abundance are almost incredible. The sound of the woodman's axe is followed by the almost complete abandonment of a locality, and chiefly from this cause and from thepersecntion they have been subjected to at the hands of the settlers and the Indians, the localities are very few where the grouse still exist in abundance. The steep sides of many of the deep cations have proved inaccessible to the lumberman, aod still retain the primeval growth of forest. Here the grouse still maintain their foot- hold, and will continue to do so long after the surrounding country has been swept bare of woods. PERDICID. E. 49. Oreortyxpicttis ( Dougl.)- Plumed Partridge; Mountain Qnail. This beautiful bird ranges from the coast across the mountains, and is found along the eastern slope, where, at an elevation of about 6,000 feet, it is quite abundant. As noticed before, it reaches the lower foot- hills, but in very much diminished numbers. Usually a resident bird wherever found: the only effect winter has upon their range is to cause them to abandon the higher elevations occupied in summer, and to appear farther down upon the mountain- sides. The mountains of this whole region lying about Lake Tahoe seem to be entirely abandoned by the species in winter, and a very complete migration takes place during the late fall. The flocks then pass not to the South, but westward, and winter upon the western slopes of the mountains, descending to a greater or less distance toward the foot- hills, according to the depth of snow, the severity of the weather, & e. Such at least is the explanation offered by the hunters and residents for their disappearance about November from this section, where earlier they are very abundant, and which I have every reason to believe is the true one. Those living in summer on the low foothills about Carson remain to winter. But those whose summer habitat is higher up in the mountains proper thus make a short migration to a region better adapted to their wants. The snow upon the eastern slope falls to a great depth, and the winter is very severe, much more so than on the western side- facts which appear to have been thoroughly acquired by experience by these birds, till the habit of migration in anticipation of winter has become a fixed and constant one. |