Vol.1908XXV] HOLL•S?ER,Birds of the Region about Needles, Cal. 455

BIRDS OF THE REGION ABOUT •N EEDLES, CALIFORNIA.

BY N. HOLLISTER.

Plate VIII.

I• THEspring of 1905,while engaged in fieldwork for theUnited StatesBiological Survey, I spentsome weeks in the vicinityof the ColoradoRiver near the point where California, Nevada, and Arizonameet. The regionis interestingfrom an ornithological point of view as little work has beendone there since the days whenFort Mohavewas a militarypost2 Arriving in the regionfrom the westI spentfrom April 10 to 16 at Goffs (Blake postoffice),California, a stationon the Santa F6 railroadbetween Bagdad and Needlesand abouttwenty-five mileswest of the ColoradoRiver. The territorysurrounding Goffs is extremedesert, a seriesof bare rockyhills and sandyfiats with no trees whateverexcept a few scrubbytree yuccasabout the basqsof the hills. The fiat districtsare partly coveredwith a growth of the creosotebush (Covilleatridentata) and other desert shrubs,which are especiallycommon and of greatersize along the numerousdry washes;it washere that mostof the birdswere found. On April 16 I movedeast to Needles,a small town on the Cali- fornia bank of the ColoradoRiver, where collectingwas carried on until May 1. Two dayswere then spenton the oppositeside in Mohave County, Arizona. On May 6, in companywith a MohaveIndian, I went into campin the low bottomlandsof the Californiaside ten milesabove Needles. May 17 we movedcamp to Twin Lakes, half a mile below the California-Nevada line, from whichpoint excursionswere made up the westbank of the riverinto southern Nevada to extendthe known ranges of various speciesinto that State. On the 25th I movedacross the river to

• In the summer of 1902 Mr. F. Stephens collected in the Providence Mountains, about Needles, and at other points along the river, also in the interests of the Bio- logical Survey, and published the results of his bird work, an interesting and valua- ble list, in ' The Condor,' Vol, V, Nos. 3 and 4, 1903. THE AUK, VOL. XXV. PLATE VIII.

LAGOON IN THE COLORADORIVER BOTTOMS NEAR NEEDLES• CALIFORNIA.

VEGETATION IN THE COLORADORIVER BOTTOMSNEAR NEEDLES• CALIFORNIA. 456 HOLLSTI,Birds of the Region about •Yeedles, Cal. [Oct.rAuk

Fort Mohave, Arizona, and worked there until May 29, when I returned to Needles. The,land borderingthe Colorado River from the Santa F• • railroadbridge north to beyondthe Nevadaline is chieflybottom- land over which the river rises each spring. This bottomland variesfrom a narrow strip alongthe banksto wide areassevera[ miles across. Just at and below the Nevada line are the wide. bottomsof the Californiaside, though in a greatbend of the river belowNeedles are extensivefiats. At the edgeof the bottomsrise low mesasextending back from the river and soondeveloping into hills of considerable size which stretch back to the mountains. borderingthe valley. The mesaand hills are desert,covered for' the mostpart with a sparsegrowth of creosotebushes and rab- bit brush. The bottomlandis thickly coveredwith arrow-weed (Plucheasericea), willow, mesquite,and screw-beanwith fine. grovesand forestsof cottonwood.Here and therethroughout the bottomsare pondsand lakes,some with a growthof tulesabout. their shores. On May 31 I left the river for Ivanpah Valley, somefifty miles: northwest on the California-Nevada line, where I collected until• June6. IvanpahValley is a largebasin, a flat deserttract nearly surroundedby hills and mountains. The elevationof the floor' of the valleyat Ivanpahstation is about3500 feet. At thenorthern: endof theyalley,some six or eightmiles from the station,is a large dry lake bed,and the entirevalley is typicaldesert with little water.. From the dry washesin the centerof the valleythere is a gradua[ rise in each direction to the bases of the hills and mountains. Creo- sote bushes,grease-brush, and cactusesform the conspicuous vegetationof the valleyproper and on the higherground bordering- the hills are a few tree yuccas. From June6 to 12 wasspent with a pack outfiton what is locallyknown as New York Mountainat the southernend of the valley. It is the highestpoint on the east- ern end of the ProvidenceRange, just well within the Stateof California,and was an agreeablechange after the extremeheat of the arid desertof IvanpahValley. On the hills surroundingthe mountainjunipers appear and become abundant and larger higher up. Aboutsome small springsin the lower foothillsare a few willowsand overthe wholemountain are patchesof pition(Pinus.. Vol.1908XX¾'] J HOLLISTER,Birds of the Region about Needles, Cal. 457

monophylla)and a smallspecies of live oak. In the gulchesof the mountainside are severalwinter springs, still runningsparingly at thisdate. The mountainis extremelyrough and rockyand trails for pack animalsare few. The formationis chieflygranite and immenseboulders lie piled one upon anotherover most of the surfaceleaving little chancefor the smallerplants. The highest ridge is said to be about 7000 feet in altitude, abovewhich extend severalbarren rocky peaks some distance higher. The bulk of the bird list refersto Californiaterritory; indeed, only two species- the Vireo and the Verdin- werenot takenor seenon Californiasoil, though both doubtless occur as plentifully' on the west bank as on the east. Severalspecies found to be common in California and southern Nevada in the immediate vicinityof the ColoradoRiver have not previously been considered as regularsummer residents in the vicinity,and I am not aware that the Dwarf Cowbirdhas beenspecifically reported from Cali- fornia or Nevada. Thanks are due to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chiefof theBiological Survey, for permissionto publishthese notes.

Larus delawarensis. RING-BILLED GULL.-- I examined the head, wings,and tail of a gull of this specieswhich had been shot at Ivanpah- station a few weeksprevious to my visit. It was a singlebird and when killed was circlingover the water tank at the station. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. WHITE PELICAN.--Reported as some- timescommon on the ColoradoRiver at Needlesduring migrations. The Mobave Indians call the pelicanYak-wIn-ye-hool'-yah. Mergus serratot. RED-BREASTED•ERGANSER.-- The sun-dried remains of a full plumagedmale found on the desertnear the center of Ivanpah Valley. The bird probably perishedfrom want of water. Anas platyrhynchos. MALL_•RD.--Saidby the Mobave Indians to be common, with other ducks in the winter, on the Colorado River. Their name for the Mallard is Ah-nah-mS'. Plegadis guarauna. WHITE-FACEDGLOSSY IBIS. A flock of eight seenflying low over the ColoradoRiver at Needles,May 2. Ardea herodias treganzai. TREGANZABLUE HERON.--In the hotel at Goffsis a mountedBlue Heronwhicl• was killed someyears ago on the dry desert near the station. On the Colorado River several were seen about the little lakes in the bottoms above Needles. Nycticorax nycticorax neevius. BLACK-CROWNEDNIGHT HERON.--At our camp above Needles in the Colorado River bottoms we frequently heardthe Night Heronsas they passedover in the evening. Himantopusmexicanus. BLACK-NECKEDSTILT.--I shot a singlebird[ 458 HOLLtSTER,Birds of the Region about Needles, Cal. LOct.rAuk

at a small pond in the ColoradoRiver bottoms just below the Nevada line in California, May 9. My Mohave companion called it MIn-sah-patch'- patch. Actiris macularia. SrOTTED S.•mrIrER.--Common about the little pondsin the river bottoms near Needles. 0xyechus vo½iferas. KILLDEEm--Fairly common at Needles. The Mohave na•ne for tlfis bird is NIn-tee-ris-tah-rees'-a. Lophortyx gainbell. G.•.•IBEL QuAm.--Abundant in the Colorado River bottoms where the calls of the cockscould be heard all through the day. An almost perfect egg was taken from a fenhaleshot April 22, and tiny young were seen the middle of May. The favorite retreat of tlfis quail seemsto be in the densethickets of arrow-weed in the low land and comparatively few were found on the neighboring mesa. The Mobave Indians call it Ah'-ha-mah. Zenaidura carolinensis. •OURNING DOVE.--Becoming more common each day of my stay at Goffs and later found in abundancein the river bottoms near Needles, where many nests were seen the first half of May. Also fairly common in Ivanpah Valley and on New York Mountain. Mohavename, •s-kee'-vah. Cathartes aura septentrionalis. TURKEY BUZZARD.--One seen high over head at Goffs. April 16. Common along the ColoradoRiver and seen daily in Ivanpah Valley. On New York Mountain the buzzards were common, gathering from the surrounding deserts in the evening to roost on the high rocky points. The Mobave Indian name is Ah-sayL Accipiter cooperi. COOrER HiWK.-- One fenhalecollected in the Colo- rado River bottoms above Needles, May 19. The Mohaves called the bird Sfi-quW-5-ki-ti. Buteo borsalia ½alurua. WESWERNRED-TAIL.--Several seen along the ColoradoRiver. Mohave name. Oo'-mah-thay. Falco sparveriusphalcsna. DESERT Sr•RROW H•WK.--A single bird seenalong the telegraphline near Goffs, April 14. Pandion halia•tus carolinensis. OSrREY.--Frequently seen along the ColoradoRiver. The Mobavescall the fish hawk Ah-spah-a-chee'-cfi-thah. Geococcyxcalifornianus. ROSD-R•R.--Common in the timbered bottomlandof the ColoradoRiver and the brushyside draws, where several were caught in meat-baited traps set for carnivorousmammals. Tbe stomachsof two examinedwere filled with large greengrasshoppers. One seen in Ivanpah Valley near the base of New York Mountain. Mobave nanhe, Tile'-paw. Ceryle alcyon. BELTEDKINGFISHER.--Several about the ponds in the Colorado River bottoms. Mobave nanhe,S/•k-wee-thay'. Dryobates scalaris bairdi. TEx.•s WOODrECKER.--Common in the river bottom about Needles where several specimenswere collected. The Mobave nanhefor woodpeckersin general is Iss-own'-5. Centurusuropygialis. GILA WOODrECKER.--I found this bird common in the timbered bottomlands of the Colorado River from Needles north Vol.1908XXV] J HOLLISTER,Birds of the Region about Needles, Cal. 459

beyond the line sonhemiles into Nevada. Specimenswere securedin Californiaten milesnorth of Needles.where the loud callsand drmnnIings were heard from morning until night. One nest was in a small blasted stub standingsome distance from shorein a largelagoon. PhalrenoptfiusnutSalii. ]PooR-WILL.--At Goffs one was heard calling on the eveningsof April 15 and 16, and while camped on the Colorado River near the Nevada-Californialine we heard one each night on the higher mesa to the west•vard. Mollave nanhe.Th-15wk.' Chorderiesacutipennis texensis. Tr•xAs x•q'IGHTHA•VK.-- Very abundant along the ColoradoRiver. The nighthawkshere spend the day in the thickets of arrow-weedfrom which I frequentlyflustied them. At night they swarmedabout the town of Needles,especially at the station,where the insectswere no doubt attractedby the lights. The switchingen•ne seemed not to bother the birds in the least and I ofteli saw them dart in and out of the thick black smokeclose to a puffingfreight. On the edge of the mesaat Fort Mollave oneevening, just beforethe time for the night- hawk's flight, I saw and heard one •vc the peculiarchuckling call. which was accompaniedby a most curiousbobbing of the bird's head and body. Mohave Indian name, Oh-roo'. A•ronautes melanoleucus. WHITE-THROATED SwirT.--Sevcral times when I climbedto near the highestrocky point on New York Mountain I saw four of thesebirds swiftly flying arohnd the peaks. Calypte costre. COSTA HUMMINGBIRD.--Hummers were common in the neighborhoodof the ColoradoRiver and about the watered gulcheson New York Mountain. The only specimentaken was shot high up on the mountain and proved to be of this species. The Mobavescall all the hummingbirdsY•n'-y•n-•. Tyrannus verticalis. AR•

0tocorisalpestris pallida. SONO•ANHORNED LAR•.-- Fairly commonat Goffs. A few breedingin Ivanpah Valley wherea family of nearly grown young was seen. Specimenscollected at both places. &phelo½omawoodhousei. WOODMOUSEJxY.--Four or five seen well up among the jmfipers and pifions on New York Mountain. Molothrus ater obscurus. DWAR• COWmRD.-- Abundant in the Colorado River bottoms during my entire stay. Specimenswere taken on the California side above Needles, and all the evidence showed the bird to be a common summer resident. Seen above the boundary monument' in Nevada. Mohave Indian name, I-thick•-wah. Agelaius phcsniceussonoriensis. So•o•xN RED-W•N•.--A few male red-•vingswere seenflying high over our camp on the ColoradoRiver above Needles and were probably breeding somewherein the vicbfity. Un- fortunately no lighting place could be located and no specimenswere taken so the subspecificdetermination is a matter of doubt. Possiblythe form is A. p. neutralis. Mohave Indian name, Qual-e-t•ik•-a. Icterus bullocki. BULLOCKORIOLE.--A common breeding speciesin the river bottoms near Needles. Four specimens. Mohave name, Stick~ •-quah'-thah. Euphagus cyanocephalus. BREWER BLAC•mRD.--During the early part of my stay at Needles a few were seen. Later all seemedto have left the region. Mohave name. Po-eah-b6s'-oh. Carpodacusmexicanus frontalis. House F•NcU.-- A few seenat Needles and on New York Mountain. Astragalinus psaltria hesperophilus. GREEN-•AC•CEDGOLDP•NCH.-- A few visited the small cottonwoodsplanted about the station at Goffs, April 14. Poc•cetes gramineus confinis. WESTERN VESPER SPARROW.--Two taken and others noted on the desert at Goffs, April 12 and 13. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli. INTER•IEDIATE SPARROW.--Common in small scattering flocksat Goffs, April 9 to 16. Two specimenssecured. Spizellabreweft. BUEWERSPX•ROW.--Very abundant at Goffs. In full song and early in the mortting the desert fairly rang with their music. None noted along the Colorado River but later in Ivanpah Valley a few were seen and one was collected June 2. 8pizella atrigularis. BLXC•-Cm•ED SPXRROW.--Fairly common on New York Mountain. Full fledged young were taken June 7. Junco byemalls thurberi. TUUR•ER J•'•co.--One taken and others. seenalong a dry wash far out on the barren desertat Goffs,April 13. Amphispizabilineata deserticola. DESEl•TSPXRROW.--Fairly common at Goffs and in Ivanpah Valley. Melospiza melodia fallax. DESERTSO• SPXRROW.--Fairly common about some of the small bottomland ponds on the Califonfia side above Needles. On May 20 a specimenin juvenile plumage was securedand several families of young were seen. Pipilo aberti. A•ERT TOXVHEE.--Abundant in the mesquite and arrow- Vol.1908XXV] HOLLISTER,Birds of the Region about Needles, Cal. 461

weed thickets of the Colorado River. Breeding on the California side about Needleswhere many full grown young were seen early in May. The Mobaves call this bird Cfim-tSs'-kah. Guiraca fA•lqllea lazula. WESTERN BLUE GROSBEAK.--Common about .openingsalong the river above Needleswhere four specimenswere col- lected. Mobave name, Sfick-'•-teeth'-a. lqr•nga rubr• cooperi. COOPERTANAGER.--Common in the large cottonwoodsfrom Needlesnorthward along the Californiaside of the river into Nevada. Fourspecimens collected ten milesabove Needles. Mobave name, MYn-sah'-Sw. Tachy½inetathalassina lepida. NORTHERNVIOLET-GREEN S•'ALLOW.-- A few seenabout Needlesduring the early part of my stay. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. ROUGH-WINGEDSWALLOW. -- Abundant along the river above Needles. Called by the Mohave Indians HSm- kay'. Lanius ludovi½ianus excubitorides. •¾HITE•RU-MPED SHRIKE.-- One pair and a family of young recentlyfrom the nest were securedat Goffs, April 11. One seenon the mesanear Needles. Vireo belli arizonee. ARIZONAVIREO.--A singlefemale taken at Fort Mohave, Arizona, May 25. Dendroica audllboRi. AUDUBON VCARBLER.--Several seen at Goffs, April •0 to 15. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis. •VESTERN YELLO•V-THROAT.--One .seen in a bottomland thicket near Needles. Icteria virens1ongicauda. LONG-TAILEDCHAT.-- Fairly commonalong the ColoradoRiver where it was evidently breeding. Oro,scoptesmontanus. SAGETHRASHER.--Common and in full song at Goffs,April 10 to 15. Mimus polyglottos leucopterus. WESTERN MOCKINGBI•D.--Common at Goffs. Oneseen at Needles. In full song. Mobavename, S6-k6th-61'- .yah. Toxostoma lecontei. LECONTE THRASHER.-- TWO seen among the larger creosotebushes in Ivanpah Valley. I found it exceedinglydiffi- cult to shoot one as they ran and flew low over the ground ahead of me at a greaterspeed than I couldtravel, and it wasonly by persistentstalking that a specimenwas secured. -2alpinctesobsoletus. ROCKWRIng,-.-- Common on New York Mountain. Catherpesmexicanus conspersus. CA•ON WRmN.--Common high up .on New York Mountain. B•eolophus inornatus griseus. GRAY TITMOUSE.--Fairly common among the juniperson New York Mountain. Specimencollected. Ysaltriparus plumbeus. LEAD~COLOREDBUsH-TIT.--Several bands of thesetits wereseen among the juniperson New York Mountain. Usually in parties of eight or ten and passedrapidly along, feedingby tixe way. 'Two specimens. Auriparusfiaviceps. VERmN.-- One seenin a thicket near Fort Mohave, 3/lay 26. 462 REXGXN,Birds of the Rosebud Reservation, S. D. LOct.FAuk

Regulus calendula. RUBY-CROWNEDKINGLET.--A few noted in the higherbushes along washes on the desertat Goffs,April 10 to 15. Polioptilac•erulea obscura. WESTERNGNATCATCHER.-- Fairly common on New York Mountain, where two were collectedJune 7. Polioptila plumbea. PLUMBEOIJSGNATC•TCHER.--Several seen and ßone securedat Goffs, April 11. Fairly commonamong the mesquites and creosote bushes on the lower mesas back from the •qver above Needles.

THE BIRDS OF THE ROSEBUD INDIAN RESERVA- TION, SOUTH DAKOTA.

BY ALBERT B. REAGAN.!

WHILE U.S. Indian teacherof the White ThunderDay School of the Rosebud Indian Reservation in 1904, I took notes on the occurrenceand habitsof the birdsthat chancedto visitthe region. TheseI give below.

1. Gavia irabet. LOON.-- Migratory; rare. 2. Larus delawarensis. RING-BILLED GULL.-- I saw but one individual of this species. 3. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. BLiCK TERN.--A male and femaleof this specieswere killed by an Indian of the campwho brought them to me for identification,remarking that they were sea birds. 4. Pelecanuserythrorhynchos. AMERICANWHITE PELICAN.-- An Ind'ma of the camp killed a malepelican, skinned it and broughtme the skin. I did not see the live bird. Thespecies of AnatidaLgiven below, commenced appearing 'March and commencedto go southAugust 21. None maderesidence in the region. But few crossedthe area in the spring, they going further to the east. More passedin their southern journey. The journey south was much prolongedon accountof the warm fall, the birds seemingin no hurry leave. Unluckily there was but little water in the vicinity of the author's loca- tion; consequentlyhe had the opportunityof obtainingbut a few speci- mens for identification. 5. Anas boschas. MALLiRD.--Abundant in migration. 6. Anas obscura. BL•CK DucK.--I killed the only specimenI saw of' this species.

Supervising warden of the Olympic Bird Reserves, Washington.