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 t58 THE CONDOR I Vol. lII birds, although a very interesting list could doubtless be gathered from the various mountain lakes during the fall, winter and spring. Finally, the present paper is principally a compilation of nesting notes which have been gleaned from several years' outings in this portion of the Sierras It has been prompted by a desire to draw more of the ornithologists of California to this great natural aviary, not necessarily to engage in active collecting, but to learn of and appreciate its varied and interesting bird life. Mr. Lyman Belding, whose long and continuous observations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains have given him a rare knowledge of its fauna, and whose writ- ings breathe always of the pine-woods, has advised every bird lover to visit this great mountain region if he has not already done st). I can scarcely hope to add force to his suggestion. Here a variety of natural features combine to form what one sojourner has termed "the grandest woodland in all the world." Here, toward evening, a flood of melody leads us to the shady haunts of the Big 'Free thrush on the border of some mountain meadow; here innumerable bird songs, the rush of the mountain torrent, the soft cadence of the pines and above all the pure mount- ain air impress us profimndly with the wild beauty and perfection of Nature's handiwork. LIST OF SPECIES. 0re0rtyx pictus plumiferus. Plumed Quail. This splendid quail is found commonly from about 2ooo feet upward to the summit and is abundant in Lake Valley. Its shrill call-note can be heard almost anywhere through the wtods, and particularly on the hillsides; the note is quite easily imitated and if persisted in will draw the bird close to the observer. At Fyffe tbe.plnmed quail begins nest- ing the last of May or early iuJune, and all nests observed were built in the "mountain misery" which here attains a height of from eight to ten inches. On June 7, 899 Mr. Carriger and I collecfed two> sets of eggs at Fyffe. The first nest was built at the base of a large cedar tree, being well concealed by d'/amrcbal/a and contained ten eggs, incubation about one-half advanced. Alth{,ugh disturbed repeatedly, the female bird returned to the nest with great persistence. The nest was photographed and its location is shown in the acctmp:nying illustration. On the same day while walking through a patch or' "mountain misery" a quail flushed from a set of elex-eu eggs. This was subseqnently collected with the nest, which was compos'd ot' the leaves and stems of C/amabalfa and a lining of feathers. The eggs were about one-half incubated and formed two layers in the nest when collected. On June to 899 Mr. Carriger collected a nest and ten eggs near the Fourteen-mile House, incubation well along. Mr. L. E. Taylor discovered a nest at about 5,ooo feet altitude on June t6, built ou a shelt' of rock near the road. A cavity had been hollt)wed out in the sand and lined with leaves; this held six fresh eggs. I should advise collecting nests with sets when possible, for they add immensely to the interest and t)eauty of the eggs. The plumed quail were ob- served coming out into the road about dusk. [On Mt. Tallac and on the higher slopes of Pyramid Peak, young just hatched have been observed as late as the tsth of August. By the first of September the quail are restless and are beginning their peculiar vertical migration to the west slope of the mountains. Sometimes four to six adults with their yonng will l)rm a covey of ten to thirty individuals and pursue their way, almost wholly "o.n foot" along the ridges to a more congenial winter climate. By Oct.  the quail have almost abandoned the elevations above 5ooo feet. In the fall the woodland is full of the discons(late "peeps" and whistling call-notes of the young wht) have