THE GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW.

Sparrows are not numerous in the high valleys at any time. The Rusty Song Sparrow and the Gambels, or western form of the White-Crowned Sparrow, are sometimes seen but a large dull colored sparrow that mixed with the Juncos about Paradise Valley during the last few weeks had us puzzled for some time. Then one day a flock of these sparrows were feeding on the Mountain Ash berries at the rear of the office and I had opportunity to observe them at close range. I could see no conspicuous field mark until a male bird perched upon a twig close to me. Then I saw the dull yellow spot on his forehead. They were the Golden-Crowned Sparrows in winter plumage. We also found them numerous in the underbrush at the foot of Mount Wow.

NISQUALLY GLACIER RECEDING RAPIDLY.

On September 27th, the recession of the terminus of the Nisqually Glacier was measured. It was found that during the past year the face of the ice has gone back some 86 feet. This is spite of the fact that the ice moves down several inches each day. The average recession for the past thirty give years has been 53 feet.

This rapid melting is accounted for by the very long and warm season just past and the fact that comparatively little snow fell last winter on the mountain.