Page:Condor4(1).djvu/4

 JAN., 1902. | THE CONDOR 5 must certainly add much to a peculiar interest that attaches to the region. Al- though in early summer the Sierran fauna probably keeps fairly apart and dis- tinct from that of the Mono basin, in late summer after the nesting season is over this distinctness is broken, and there is a large invasion of the valley by moun- tain species--particularly by the immature birds. This is well illustrated by the occurrence of such typical Sierran birds as Cabanis woodpecker, Clarke crow, Hammond flycatcher, white-crowned sparrow, Audubon warbler, Louisiana tana- ger, Tolmie warbler, mountain chickadee and robin, along with the mourning dove, marsh hawk, poor-will, magpie, California jay, western vesper sparrow, Brewer sparrow, sage thrasher and western house wren, which properly belong to foothills and valleys. The country around Mouo Lake is, however, by no means low, being considerably over 6000 feet, but the high summer temperature of the Great Basin region characterizes also this sub-sidiary basin, and we have the rather common occurrence of a low zone at a comparatively high altitude. The country about Farrington's is differentiated into foothills and plains, and this plain, which surrounds the lake, and which is undoubtedly a part of the basin of an alder anti larger lake, is variously terraced, and cut by small arroyos. The vicinity of the ranch is a favorable gathering place for birds as the broad meadow land and willow-lined streams form an especially inviting field for their activities. So likewise is the high pinyon hill which sends out a long spur back- ward to join the main precipitous range, and this forms a natural highway along which the mountain species are wont to work in their excursions to the pinyon forests. The willow bordered streams which come down from Bloody and neigh- boring canyons also offer a ready means of progress for Tolmie warblers, white- crowned sparrows and similar retiring birds that do not care to take to the open. Thus the ranch might be regarded as a kind of first stopping place for many spec ies, because tow,rd the lake the country is hardly so inviting. The 'sage-brush' is largely composed of Artemisia, Chrysothamnus. Kunzia, Sheperdia and Ephe- dra. The usual gray-green is variegated by the bright green leafless Ephedra and