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 1901' THE CONDOR 15i A List of the Land Birds of the Placerville--Lake Tahoe $taoe Road. CENTRAL SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, CAL. BY CHESTER BARLOW WITH SIJPPLI.:MENTAR NOTES BY W. W. PRICE 'THE region embraced )n this title covers a magnificent stretch of forest in the [central Sierra Nevada Mountains which, for natural beauty, is probably not surpassed elsewhere in the state. The general nature of the country is not of. that extreme rugged type of which Yosemite Valley or the Kings River Can- yon farther south in the mountain chain are examples, but attains its sublimity by gradual rises. From the Sierran foothills gently-sloping ridges follow-each other in billowy succession, becoming more abrupt as we ascend, until at Echo great mountain- sides of granite crop out, marking the most rugged part of.the route. The Lake Tahoe stage road has wound its way over the divide from the east and down the American River since pioneer days, yet it seems to have been but little frequented ly ornithologists, and perhaps more systematic work has been done along this route during the. past ten years than at all previous times. ',.. The distance from Placerville to the summit of the mountains is approximately 5 nile and an additional [2 [niles along the east slope brings one to Tallac on the southerly shore o Lake Tahoe. The road for the most part is excellent during the early summer months and travel by team is an enjoyable means of progression if'one has the time at his disposal. To those less favored with time I would recommend going by rail to Placerville, thence by stage (running semi-weekly) to such point along the road as may be desired. If a more varied itinerary is desired one may continue on to Tallac. cross Lake Tahoe by steamer and reach Truckee, Whence the return home may be made by the Central Pacific Railroad. DESCRIPTION OF ROUTE. Along this route extending from the chaparral covered foothills to an approx- imate altitude of 8,ooo feet the changes in bird life may be in[ere[singly followed as we ascend. At Placerville, located in the lower ridges of the range (altitude 8oo ft.) only a sprinkling of mountain species occur through the summer, but as we ascend the generality o[ valley birds decreases with the increased altitude, al- though a few pre-eminently valley forms--notably Spizel/a socialis arizonr, Fireo .il'vts, ipilo nacttlatus meg-alotzy' and Zamelodia meIanocephaIa extend to the sum- mit,--an altitude of 8,ooo feet. It is an interesting problem as to why these par- ticular birds of the valley should eek such altitudes, while the great majority of austral species decline with the beginning of the coniferous forests. From Plcerville, about which fo,ests of yellow pine begin, the tiluber growth isfor the most part hea'vy and so continues to the summit. The principal other coniferous trees through the forests are sugar pine, fir, cedar, Douglas spruce, hemlock, yew, .juniper and tamarack, accordi.ng to altitude. The principal de- ciduous tree of the region is the black oak which seems to constitute a favorite feeding-ground for the smaller birds, and which extends tip to 55oo feet but not higher.