holes which they excavate in rotten wood, often in stumps not more than two feet from the ground; nest of hair and wool; eggs five, pure white, thickly speckled with light-brown, chiefly toward the large end. Its note is a loud, clear “chick a dee-dee-dee," given in a monotone. 9. Parus rufescens Towns. (chestnut-backed titmouse).-Less abundant than the last, which they closely resemble in habits. A nest that I found in the top of a willow "stub" (not excavated) contained four pure white eggs, somewhat larger than the preceding species, dotted sparingly with large patches of fawn-drab. The nest was lined with fur of a squirrel. Their note is a faint "ke-dee-dee-dee," the last syllable uttered a “fifth" higher. 10. Psaltriparus minimus Towns. (least titmouse).-Plentiful during the winter months among the evergreens, always in small flocks. Many remain all summer to breed, but they are more retired and less conspicuous. I took a nest of this species in June, 1874; it was pensile, built of moss (Hypnum and Tillandsia), with the entrance (a small round hole) on one side, passing up and over into the inside; it was lined with feathers and hair, and contained four pure white eggs. Their call note is a subdued "zip," "zip," varied to "zip-kitty." II. Sitta aculeata Cass. (Western nuthatch).-Quite common during the summer and not rare during the winter. They breed in various places, the greatest desire being concealment. A pair had a nest in the college building at Forest Grove and raised seven young; the entrance was a knot-hole in the siding, and it was placed between the ceiling of the lower room and the floor above and was not accessible. Another was built for several years in the double roof of an ice-house upon the sawdust. I took out a set of nine eggs in 1877, white, specked with light brown of the same shade and pattern as Parus occidentalis, differing only in larger size. Their only note is a coarse harsh "swank," uttered at intervals that make one expect to see a larger bird. 12. Sitta canadensis Linn. (red-bellied nuthatch).-Associated with the preceding, which it much resembles in habits. Its call, "beek," is in a higher key and not so coarse. The nest and eggs I have not seen. 13. Thryothurus spilurus Vig. (Western mocking wren).—This bird is quite common in the swampy parts of the valley, and breeds, though I never saw its nest or eggs. 14. Troglodytes parkmani Aud. (Parkman's house wren). — Common during the summer and breeds plentifully, any place being “just right." I saw a nest in the pocket of a pair of trousers used as a scare crow." In retaliation for their driving away a pair of blue-birds from a box at my house, I began taking the eggs, and succeeded in getting twenty-one, when I grew ashamed, and they afterwards laid and hatched five more. The song is like that of the Eastern species. 15. Troglodytes hyemalis Vieill. (winter wren).—Remains during the winter, living in semi-clearings under brush and log heaps, but leaves for other parts to breed. 16. Anthus ludovicianus Gmel. (titlark).-Common during winter, feeding in old fields and in roads. 17. Helminthophaga celata Say (orange-crowned warbler).— Very common during summer, and undoubtedly breeds, but I have never found its nest. 18. Dendroca estiva Gmel. (summer warbler).-A very common summer resident, nesting extensively, with the usual habits of the species. 19. Dendræca auduboni Towns. (Audubon's warbler).— The most abundant warbler during summer, and a few remaining until far into, if not all, winter. It probably breeds commonly, but I have been able to find but one nest, taken May 26, 1879. It was placed in the top of a small oak (Q. garryana), about fifteen feet from the ground, and placed between three upright twigs, built of grass and horsehair, and lined with feathers from a neighboring fowl-yard; it contained four greenish-white eggs, spotted around the larger end in a ring with light-brown and lavender, and a few dots of brownish black; they measured .72 by 54.71 by .54, .70 by .52 and .70 by .52 of an inch. 20. Dendræca coronata Linn. (yellow-crowned warbler).—I have obtained several birds in spring that I have referred to this species. 21. Dendræca nigrescens Towns. (black-throated gray warbler. Moderately common during summer in favorable situations, seeming to prefer dense undergrowth near a swamp. I took a nest of this species June 17, 1879, in the top of a clump of Spiræa, built of fine roots and dried grass and lined with the down of the cottonwood. It contained four eggs of a dirty-white color, thickly marbled with longitudinal lines and dots, more confluent They toward the larger end, of two shades of light-brown. measured .66 by .53, .65 by .54, .65 by .54 and 65 by .52 of an inch. 22. Geothlypis trichas Linn. (Maryland yellow-throat).—A very common little resident during summer among the reeds and thickets about marshes, where they breed. 23. Geothlypis macgillivrayi Aud. (Macgillivray's warbler).— A summer resident, nesting quite commonly; it is usually placed in the very top of a rose thicket and hardly concealed; it is built of dried grass and leaves, and very loosely woven. Eggs usually four, pure white, sprinkled around the larger end with splashes and irregular dots of lilac, pale-brown and umber. 24. Icteria longicauda Lawr. (long-tailed chat).-Inhabits the dense thickets of Spiræa during the summer, and probably breeds, though I have not seen its nest. 25. Myiodioctes pusillus Wils. (green black-capped warbler).— Only noticed during the spring migrations. 26. Hirundo lunifrons Say (cliff swallow).—Abundant during summer, breeding chiefly under eaves. 27. Hirundo bicolor Vieill. (white-bellied swallow).-Also abundant, nesting in holes in trees. 28. Hirundo thalassina Swains. (violet-green swallow).— Also abundant, nesting in knot-holes and crevices about buildings; have never seen their nest in any other situation; among peculiar places, I saw one in a hollow east window sill, another under the tin top of a wooden capital, twelve feet above the sidewalk, another was under a sign that lay flatwise on the awning, another in an old hat that hung in a shed. They are decidedly the most familiar of the three species of swallows. 29. Vircosylvia soiitaria Vieill. (blue-headed flycatcher).- A common summer resident, chiefly among deciduous trees, where it also nests. The nest is subpensile in a low horizontal fork, neatly and compactly built of fine grass and horsehair, lined with fine moss and spiders' webs, and externally covered with bits of Hepatica and Hypnum to resemble a piece of bark. The eggs, usually four, pinkish-white, covered at the large end with reddishbrown dots and marks. The song is irregular, " to whit-to wheeto whit-to wheo," repeated incessantly as they flit among the leaves for food, their favorite tree being the large oak (Q. garryana). 30. Ampelis garrulus Linn. (waxwing).—I obtained a pair of these beautiful birds during a snowstorm in January, 1876, at Forest Grove. They were feeding at the time on rose berries. 31. Ampelis cedrorum Vieill. (cedar bird).—An abundant summer resident, nesting extensively in the groves of small Douglass spruce. 32. Collurio borealis Vieill. (Northern shrike).—Quite common resident, though I have not found it breeding. 33. Pyranga ludoviciana Wils. (Louisiana tanager).-Another one of those common summer residents that seem to defy all attempts at the discovery of its nest. 34. Curvirostra americana Wils. (red crossbill). Common among the evergreen covered mountains, and coming down to the valley in winter. I have not seen its nest. 35. Carpodacus californicus Baird (Western purple finch).— Common summer resident, and breeds, though I have not yet found a nest. It is noted for its habit of cutting off the bloom of the cherries for the embryonic seed therein. Its note of alarm is a 'quit-quit," and its song a warbling "whidly-whidly-whidly," repeated very rapidly. 36. Chrysomitris tristis Linn. (yellow bird). A common summer resident, breeding extensively, with the usual habits of the species. 37. Chrysomitris pinus Wils. (pine finch).-A common winter resident, living in flocks, and frequenting fields and gardens for seeds, virtually taking the place of the preceding at that time. It probably breeds in the mountains. 38. Hesperiphona vespertina Coop. (evening grosbeak).—Sometimes plentiful during the spring migrations, frequenting the maple (A. macrophyllum), the seeds of which are a favorite food. The only note I observed was a loud "yeeip," strikingly like the call of a lost chicken. 39. Passerculus sandwichensis Gmel. (Alaskan sparrow).—Seen sparingly during the migration, which is usually in small flocks, [To be continued.] A BOTANIST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. BY JOSEPH F. JAMES. HE E who would see California at her best, should come here in the spring. If the traveler arrives about the middle of March, he will find the spring in all its beauty and freshness. After his passage over the snowy Sierra, he will be delighted at the change from ice and snow to green grass and flowers; from cold and cutting northern winds to gentle balmy southern breezes. The sky will appear of a brighter blue, and the grass of a greener tinge than he ever saw before, and he will feel a vigor and a freshness which he has not felt in many a long day. There seems to be a something in the air of California which makes it different from what it is elsewhere. It may be that it is possessed of more ozone than common, and the presence of that material freshens up one's thoughts and feelings. The rains of the winter season will then be over, and the grass and flowers will be seen in all their verdure and freshness. On the other hand, should he arrive in the summer, he will find everything dried and parched; and as first impressions are always the most lasting, it is likely that he will have a much poorer opinion of the country than if he had seen it first in all its beauty. To a botanist, California is almost a paradise, and although he will not find in it much of that magnificent vegetation, and those grand and interminable forests which are characteristic of the tropics, we venture to say that he will find here as many, or nearly as many, curious and interesting forms of vegetable life as he can find in any other country of the world. The distribution of rain during the year has been the cause, at least in Southern California, of a peculiarity in the development of vegetable life. Rain falls only from November to March, and the remainder of the year is dry and hot. By the middle of June or July many of the plants and flowers have disappeared; the grass is dry and parched, and the whole country assumes an appearance which is extremely depressing. Most all the flowering plants appear, therefore, in the spring, and it is almost next to useless to hunt for them, except along the banks of streams and in deep shaded cañons, after the first of June. But the spring! Ah! that is the time. It would be almost impossible to find a more beautiful sight than is then visible in |