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 May, I9O4 [ THE CONDOR 73 the railway, feeding on the waste dumped from the dining cars. On my approach they would fly out through the cracks in the shed, perch on nearby trees until the coast was clear, and then return to their feast. CLAR:E NUTCRAC:ER (Arucifraga columbiana). I have seen this bird on Mt. Tallac where it appeared to be feeding on the cones of the timberline pine. BENDIRE CROSSBILL (Loxitz . bendfrei). This is one of the most interesting of the winter birds, but probably of rather irregular occurrence as I have seen only a few flocks. Each time they were feeding industriously on the cones of the tama- rack pine, in a few minutes fairly darkening the snow beneath with scales and refuse. At Summit in February, 9o, I observed a large flock of these birds each day during my stay of a week. The flock, perhaps containing twenty individuals, adults and those in immature plumage, was not wary, but often allowed me to approach the tree and watch them deftly pry open the cones with their sharp mandibles. When alarmed, the whole flock would leave the tree with a rush, circle a few times and alight in a tree in the neighborhood, beginning to feed at once. AMERICAN DIPPER, (Cinclus mewicamts). The dipper is found along all the open streams. I have heard its beautiful wil.ds. ong at all times, strangely sweet and almost out of place in the solitude of winter. Oue evening along the Truckee River in the midst of a fierce snowstorm I heard its song. I could not locate the bird at first, but after a time I found it perched on a rock in the shallow water and overhung by ahuge snowbank. For a time I watched it pouring out song after song, and when I passed on I could still hear the sweet notes until distance and the rush of the storm silenced it. CANYON WREN (Catherpes m. punctulatus). I found a dead bird of this species in the snow at the Glen Alpine resort in March, 9o3. The watchman there told me that there had been a pair about the buildings the entire winter but they had disappeared during the recent hard storm. This present February I heard the song of this bird in the snow-sheds at Summit Station and while I did not see the specimen its song was unmistakable. It probably had its retreat in the round house or other railroad buildings. The sheds themselves are so filled with smoke and gas from the passing locomotives that residence there would be intolerable. MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Parus gambeli). This is by far the most common of all the winter birds. They are found everywhere and often in scattering flocks of