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 6o THE CONDOR I Vol. III strayed from their coveys. In the early spring and summer the quail begin their upward journey, not in flocks, but usually in pairs or singly, ascending as fast as the snow melts from the ground. At titis mating season their rich clear whistle is continually heard, though at no time during the year are they quiet. I observed several pair near Slippery Ford on the 2oth of April, 897, though snow still cov- ered the ground in many places.--W. W. P.] Lophortyx alifornicus vallicolus. Valley Quail. Observed in the region of Smith Flat and probably extends up as far as Fyffe. Not nearly as common as the preceding species. [Common about the Six-mile Htms and as far as the Ten-mile House. Voung, a few days old, were observed at the Six-mile House June 26, t896.-- W. W. V.] Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus. Sooty Grouse. Occurs from the Four- teen-mile House to the summit, but apparently not common at any point. On Plum Creek Mr. Taylor and I heard them "drumming" in the tall spruce on the hillsides. On June 4, 9ot we had just crossed the summit and made a turn in the road when a sooty grouse was observed crouched about 5 feet away against the bank. One shot from the auxiliary barrel did not disturb it; the second caused it to fly down the hill into a tall tamarack, where it was subsequently found sitting in plain view on a bare limb, from which it was collected. [I have noted this species from the Twelve-mile House to 95o0 feet on Pyra- mid Peak and Mt. Tallac. Unlike the plumed quail the grouse does not migrate to the lower levels, I)ut remains regardless of the depth of snow, feeding on the conifers. April 2, 897, while pasiag on snowshoes on the divide above Slippery Ford, I surprised a large flock where the snow was fully 5 feet on the level. The crop of a bird shot was c,mpletely filled with the young leaves of the white fir. About Glen Alpine, the first young were observed as early as the middle of June. On June 7, 9oo a set of seven eggs well advanced inincubttionwasfcund by one of the employes at Glen Alpine. It was placed in a hole under a fallen tree, amongfferns. All through the setting time, and often much later, the males are heard drumming. Later they go to the most elevated regions, spending most of their time in the pines and hemlocks, alighting on the ground only long enough to feed on the blossoms o.f lupine, colmnbiae, and Indian paint brush (Castilleja), together with a small amount of insect food. When tl;e young are hatched the mother grouse is notably fearless in decoying the intruder.--W. W. P ] Columba fasciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. On June 6, 899 Mr. Welch and observed a flock of these pigeons in the pines near Fyffe. This is my only record of their occurrence. [Common at many lqaces in the mountains, to at least 65(0o feet, their rarity or abundance depending on the food supply, x hich is chiefly the berries of the man- zanita and scrub oak. [ observed a single individual at Glen Alpine, August t5, 9oo.--W. W. P._-I Zenaidura macr0ura. Mourning I)ove. This species is abundant (m the plains and was observed commonly about Smith Flat. It is doubtful if it is a common resident of the pine region. on June t, i898 Ifound a nest containing two fresh eggs, placed in a crotch of a black oak eight feet frmn the ground. T'he nest was composed wholly of pine needles laid together in a depression and con- tained two fresh eggs. [Common about Pacific House in freshly harvested grain fields June 28, 897 and a single pair was observed at Slippery Ford a few days later. They are rare about Lake l'ahoe, but several were shot at the north end of the lake, in dry meadows Aug. , I9oo.--W. W. P.]