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THE LIBRARY
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THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
ADDITIONS TO THE ORNITHOLOGY
OF-
GUADALUPE ISLAND,
By WALTER E.i BRYANT
ir
Extract from Bulletin 6, California Academy of Sciencet.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 269
ADDITIONS TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND
BY WALTER E. BRYANT.
->^ The avifauna of Guadalupe Island was entirely unknown
** to science until 1875, when Dr. Edward Palmer, in the in-
-^ terest of the U. S. National Museum, made a collection of
-!j seventy-two specimens embracing eight species of land
birds and one water bird, found dead on the island.^ The
results of this work were published by Mr. Robert Ridg-
way.^
In " The Birds of Guadalupe Island," Mr. Eidgway
remarks that " the land birds contained in the collection
from Guadalupe embrace only eight species, so that the
^ fauna of the island is by no means fully represented; indeed,
. the collector observed a humming-bird, two kinds of owls,
^ and a hawk, of which no specimens were obtained. This is
^ to be regretted, since most, if not all, of these would doubt-
less have proved new. It is altogether likely, too, that
?5;^ other species escaped notice, and thus remain to be dis-
nj^ covered; a rich field is therefore left to the future ex-
plorer.
I have twice visited in pursuit of ornithological studies
this remote island, which is extremely difficult of access. In
January, 1885, I spent a brief time on Guadalupe, sufficient
time, indeed, to but increase my desire for further investi-
NoTE ^. — The eight species of land birds were determined to be new to
science. The water bird was an adult specimen in breeding plumage of the
Pacific Loon ( Urinator pacificus) .
Note ^. — "Ornithology of Guadeloupe Island, based on notes and collect-
ions, made by Dr. Edward Palmer." Bulletin, Hayden's Survey, 1876, No.
2, p. 183.
See, also. Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. II, p. 58, July,
1877.
19— Bull. Cal, Acad. Sci. II. 6. Issued January 5, 1887.
I- ( Q ^ (
270 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
gation. Through the kindness of Mr. Luis Huller I was
enabled at the end of the same year to make a second visit,
landing on the island on December 16, 1885. My expecta-
tion was to stay about six weeks, but as it eventuated, it
was one hundred and twelve days before an opportunity
presented itself for me to leave the island. During these
three months and a half I had ample time to
most thoroughly prospect the island and to make a careful
study, not only of the birds themselves but of their habits,
number and distribution.
Guadalupe being almost unknown and charts quite unat-
tainable, a few words in the way of description may serve to
render more lucid the remarks which follow.
Guadalupe : Island is situated about two hundred and
twenty miles to the southward and westward of San Diego,
the northern extremity lying in about 29° 10' N., 118° 18'
W. Extending about fifteen miles in length, with a max-
imum width of &ve miles, it is said to reach at its highest
point an altitude of 4,523 feet. It is of volcanic origin, as is
is evidenced by the loose, burnt rocks, and broken lava
which cover the entire island. Rocks varying in size from
the smallest pebble to that of a cocoa nut are thickly strewn
about on every hand, while in places, huge boulders and
ledges crop out. An unbroken ridge rising to its greatest
height in the central portion extends the entire length of the
island from north to south, forming a ** hog's back." On
the western side of this range, the land slopes rapidly
towards the ocean, ending in many places in high perpen-
dicular cliffs.
Towards the south the land is somewhat lower, sloping
more gradually and ending less abruptly. It is noticeable
that the southern part of the island, which is the lowest, is
very rocky and barren, no trees growing below the central
mesa. Whatever vegetation exists there, consists of stunted
alfileria and scattered sagebrush. The western side is
broken by two great canons separated by a barren hill of
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 271
reddish rock. The northern portion consists of a very sharp
ridge nearly or quite perpendicular on the western face,
while on the eastern slope it descends rapidly and hides its
surface under a covering of sagebrush.
For convenience of reference, I shall mention the wooded
tracts under four distinct heads : —
First — At the northern end of the island is a fast decay-
ing forest of pines, extending within narrow limits along
the sharp ridge and down the almost perpendicular western
face. Among these pines are to be found a few hardy oaks
upon whose branches grow huge acorns, said to be the
largest in the world. A few isolated pines nre found grow-
ing along the ridge nearly to its central portion.
Second — Far down on the northwestern slope is a large
grove of cabbage palms.
Third — On the highest part of the island, with the excep-
tion of a single peak (Mt. Augusta), is situated a large grove
of cypress trees covering an area of a mile or more on the
western slope; the eastern side of this forest ends abruptly
at the edge of the ridge, below which is a comparatively
level table land.
Fourth — On this plateau grows a small cypress grove.
Here I had my permanent camp, within half a mile of which
were several springs and pools of water. With the excep-
tion of one spring here and one or two towards the north,
all the waters were more or less strongly alkaline. When-
ever rain collected in the rocky basiA of the small arroyos,
this water was used in preference to the alkali water of the
springs.
The vegetation in a wet season, as was the winter of
1885-6, consisted <ihiefly of the common alfileria, while in
places, especially about old goat corrals, dense growth of
malva had sprung up. Throughout the entire length
of the island, there grows in places a small white
sagebrush with j^ellow blossoms. This sagebrush, to-
gether with the bark of the cypress trees, serves
272 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
in dry years as food for the goats, who numbered, I
should judge, about two thousand. In the large cypress
grove I saw scarcely a tree that did not bear the marks of
their teeth.
The climate of Guadalupe was, at that season of the year,
quite cool, in fact the nights were so cold that ice occasion-
ally formed, while frost was of common occurrence. To-
wards spring the weather moderated considerably, and
in the summer, I am told, it is very warm. During many
days the north-westers blew keenly, rising at times almost
to a gale. The fogs were very dense, and, driven by
high winds, swept over the island, saturating it like rain.
Although the rains were at no time very heavy, the slop-
ing and rocky formation of the land allows most of it to
flow off, so that a few hours of rain would send small tor-
rents rushing down the arroyos.
The work of preparing specimens was beset with many
difficulties. On some days the large blow-flies that swarmed
about camp compelled me to prepare and pack in a green
condition the specimens as soon as brought in. But more
trouble was caused by the dense fogs that often enveloped
the camp and so relaxed skins that were not tightly boxed,
as to render it necessary to reset them. The accommoda-
tions, moreover, were not the most suitable, nor were the
comforts of life in excess of the demand for them. As a
result of three and a half months' sojourn on the island,
the number of known species has been increased by twenty-
seven, making a total of thirty-six known to the islaud.
Four of the straggling species, viz.: — Mountain Bluebird,
Varied Thrush, Townsend's Sparrow and Golden-crowned
Sparrow, are recorded for the first time from so southern a
latitude as Guadalupe Island, while their presence so far off
shore, is of scarcely less interest. It is shown quite con-
clusively that the four species (certainly three of them) that
were noted, but not taken in 1875, are not new to science.
The very natural supposition to the contrary held by many,
served to attract me to the island.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 273
There yet remain uiLwiown the eggs of Pip'ilo consohrinvs,
Tlirijothorus hrevicaudus and Polyhorus lutosus, and also the
young plumage of Thryothorus hrevicaudus, Colaptes rufi-
pileiis and Begtdiis obscurus.
From Dr. Palmer's notes I was led to suppose that the
breeding season on Guadalupe differed but slightly, if any,
from that about the vicinity of San Francisco Bay. Per-
sonal observation, however, reveals the fact that on the
island it is several months earlier, nesting beginning with
many of the species in the winter, as will be seen by the
dates accompanying the notes.
The researches made by Mr. L. Belding on the western
coast of Lower California, disclose the fact that, as far
south as Cerros Island (about 28 deg. north), the birds do
not differ from those found near San Diego.
With the exception of a pair of falcons (F. mexicanus ?),
which were not taken, the subjoined is a complete list of
the birds which I found inhabiting Guadalupe Island.
Nevertheless, there is a strong probability that others have
and will find rest in transit, or permanently, as in the case of
the cross-bills and nuthatches. Without going into the
details of a strict technical treatise, I will endeavor to
give a full account of the habits, distribution and num-
bers of the birds from my personal observation. The
measurements have been carefully taken and com-
pared with specimens and published descriptions, those of
the more common species being omitted.
The Mexican names of many birds were not known to the
inhabitants, and in some instances it was evident that they
either confounded the species or applied to a bird the name
of some similar bird with which they were familiar. As they
may, however, be of use to others who may visit the island,
I append the names as they were given me :
1. — Buteo borealis calurus. — " Aguilia," which more strictly
means an eagle.
274 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
2. — Tinniinculus sparverius. — " Gavalancillo."
3. — Polyborus lutosus. — " Queleli."
4. — Speotyto cunicularia liypogsea. — "Lechuza."
5. — Colaptes rufipileus. — " Carpentero." This name is ap-
plied to several of the woodpeckers in California, partic-
ularly Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi.
6. — Micropusmelanoleucus. — " Golondrina." Also applied
to swallows in Lower California.
7. — Trochilus anna. — *' Chuparrosa." Hummingbirds
generally.
8. — Carpodacus amplus. — '^ Gorrion." Pronounced " Bu-
rion," as it is spelled in B. B. & E. Hist. N. Am. Birds.
In California C. frontalis rliodocolpus is also known by
this name.
9. — Junco insularis. — " Gorrion azul."
10. — Oroscoptes montanus. — " Sinsontle."
11. — Salpinctes guadeloupensis. — " Saltapared."
12. — Eegulus obscurus. — " Canaria."
13. — Merula migratoria propinqua. — " Silguero."
To Mr. H. W. Henshaw, Mr. W. O. Emerson and the
authorities of the U. S. National Museum, I am much in-
debted for the use of specimens with which to compare my
own. I also wish to express my thanks to Mr. L. Belding
for valuable information and suggestion, and to Capt. L.W.
Johnston for his many kind offices during the two voyages
which I have made with him. To Mr. John Lehr, the
island agent, my thanks are due for his valuable aid during
my stay.
The nomenclature and order of the A. O. U. checklist has
been followed in the preparation of this paper.
li Larus occidentalis.
Western Gull. — A few single birds were seen off shore
alighting on rocks which at high tide were entirely covered.
I was told that the gulls had formerly bred in considerable
numbers at the southern end of the island, where they were
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 275
not SO frequently molested b}^ the '' Quelelis." The latter,
said my informant, had often been seen in the act of rob-
bing the gulls of their eggs. The birds can undoubtedly
nest at the present time on any other portion of the shore,
especially the northern, where they would be comparatively
free from this source of danger. Had more time been at
disposal, a trip of a few days along shore might have re-
sulted in the discovery of a breeding colony, although the
month of April was rather early to look for gull's eggs.
Specimens in both adult and immature plumage in num-
bers were noticed about the island, but after getting well
out to sea on the return voyage, the schooner was accompa-
nied by a few adult birds only. On approaching the Cali-
fornian coast, these were joined by a number of others, ac-
companied by a few birds of immature plumage. Appar-
ently the younger birds are not partial to long flights at sea,
with the chances of encountering heavy weather, and there-
fore prefer to follow the coast-line. If such be the case,
the immature birds of Guadalupe may have been reared
there, and were loath to put to sea in pursuit of vessels.
2. Fuffinus gavia.
Black-vented Shearwater. — A decayed specimen, found
on top of the island in April, has kindly been identified
by Dr. Cooper as this species. One stormy night in Jan-
uary, I heard a bird, as he flew past camp, making a pecu-
liar rasping squawk, and although I subsequently heard the
same sound on numerous occasions, more particularly when
encamped at a lower altitude, I was yet unable to detect the
author of it. My Mexican companion said the bird that
made the sound was a ^'Cuapo," common in Mexico; he
also drew in explanation the outline of the bill of some ra-
pacious bird; such information is, of course, extremely un-
reliable.
Since then I have not found any one who knows of a bird
by the name **Cuapo." I was inclined to assign the sounds
276 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
to sea-birds, which hypothesis was strengthened by my
hearing a far greater number of these night-fiiers nlong the
beach than on the top of the island, where the dead one was
found. In the afternoon on which I left the island, large
flocks of Shearwaters were seen a few miles from shore, all
of which were on the wing, not much above the waves.
Some or all may have been of this species. -As the schooner
neared Los Coronados Islands (about twenty miles south-
west of San Diego), large flocks were seen on the water but
rose long before the boat reached them.
3. Oceanodroma leucorhoa.
Leach's Peteel. — In the latter part of January, I was
encamped for a few days upon a narrow shelf of rock below
the top of a steep hillside, which formed a quiet lee where
some slight protection could be had against the gale. No
ornithological work was possible, and nothing could be
done for the three days of the storm's continuance but to
hug the camp fire. At midnight of the last day, my com-
panion awakened me to announce that some ** little owls "
were flying about. Every few minutes a bird would pass
the small circle of light or hover for an instant in the glow
above the fire, while from the enveloping darkness their
calls and replies could be clearly heard. There seemed to
be four or five close by, but so quick were they in their
movements, with flight as erratic as that of a bat, that I
found it impossible to shoot them. The next night, I set a
steel trap, but the bait, consisting of a Junco, remained un-
touched. The birds came about my camp only on the
darkest nights or, if any were flying during moonlight, they
were entirely silent. After the setting of the moon, how-
ever, even though as late as four o'clock in the morning,
they would make their appearance with their peculiar call.
The note I find hard to describe; perhaps I may best char-
acterize it by saying that they seemed to call hurriedly,
*' here's-a-letter,'' *^ here^s-a-letter," and tb'^u from the dark-
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 277
ness came the reply from another that I supposed to be at
rest, 'ybr you,'' ^\for you.''
Toward the north I often found wings or other fragments
of a petrel, and sometimes the entire body with the excep-
tion of the head. Of several dozen picked up from the
ground but one entire bird was found. Scores of these
bodies were found, some of them partially eaten. My Mexi-
can said that this wholesale slaughter was the work of cats,
but only one or two of these animals were seen, while de-
capitated petrels were lying about on all sides.
There were many small holes in the moist hillside open-
ing under boulders and fallen branches. Digging into these
holes for a distance of from one to three feet, my search
was rewarded by the discovery of petrels and fresh eggs.
During the greater part of two days I dug into about eighty
burrows, in most of which a single bird was found. In
some cases a single egg, never more, laid upon a few pine
needles in an enlarged chamber at the extremity of the
burrow was disclosed to view on removing the bird. The
birds seemed dazed when brought to light, and walked or
fluttered helplessly along the ground for a few feet until
they sufficiently recovered from their fright to make use of
their wings. When tossed into the air they descended
lightly and made their way among the tree-trunks and wind-
falls, dodging limbs and branches with a quick, bat-like
motion. I do not know whether they flew out to sea or
found concealment until nightfall, but the latter course
seems the more probable.
Seldom did a bird make a sound when seized, but occa-
sionally a cry like that of a bird in distress would escape
them. One individual, however, while being unearthed,
kept up the peculiar night-call which had so puzzled me
about the camp-fire.
Their favorite breeding-ground was on the pine ridge,
but nests were found as far south as the small cypress grove.
It was very difficult to secure clean specimens since, upon
278
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
being caught, they invariably vomited and purged a reddish,
thin, oily fluid of an extremely strong odor. The single
egg which they lay is held against the abdomen of the sit-
ting bird. It is shaped much like a pigeon's egg, white in
in color, while one end is wreathed with a fine spattering of
minute dots of reddish brown and pale lavender.
The average measurements of fifty eggs taken March 4th
and 5th, is 35.7 x 27 mm. The largest eggs measure 37.5
X 27.5; 38x27.5; 37 x 28 mm., and the smallest 31.5 x 26;
32.5 x 25.5; ; 33 x 27 mm.
DIMENSIONS OF SPECIMENS,
Collector's
No.
Sex and
age.
Wing.
Tail
feath'rs
Depth of
fork.
Exposed
culmen.
Tarsus.
Middle
toe aud
claw.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2555
$ ad.
155
85
25
17
25
29
2556
S ad.
162
92
28
17
23
29
2558
$ ad.
158
87
23
16
23
28
2559
$ ad.
161
90
30
16
25
28
2560
S ad.
162
93
25
15.5
25
28
2561
6 ad.
160
89
32
17
24
28
2563
$ ad.
166
95
—
17
25
29.5
2564
$ ad
168
94
32
17
23
30
2566
S ad
162
92
26
16.5
24
29
2567
$ ad
166
97
34
17
24
30
2568
$ ad.
? ad.
1 1-
160
92
—
15.5
22.5
28
2557
171
99
35
16
24
28
2562
167
97
30
16
22
29
2565
159
96
35
17
26
30
No. 11,164 in the collection of the Cal. Academy of Sciences, from At-
lantic Ocean, measures — Tail, 94 mm.; depth of fork, 18 mm.; culmen, 16
mm.; tarsus, 22.5 mm.; middle toe and claw, 24.5 mm.
No. 11,165 in the collection of the Cal. Academy of Sciences, from At-
lantic Ocean, measures — Tail, 92 mm.; depth of fork, 18 mm.; culmen, 16
mm.; tarsus, 22 mm.; middle toe and claw, 25 mm.
There is indicated in the longer tail, greater dopth of fork and longer
middle toe which is constant in the Guadalupe example, a Pacific or at least
a Guadalupe Island form of Oceanodroma, differing mainly in these respects
from 0. leucorhoa. But I have not at present sufficient material from the
Atlantic Coast to determine this satisfactorily.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 279
4. Anser albifrons gambeli.
American White-fronted Goose. — At my first visit on
January 14, 1885, I shot a goose, which I have no doubt
was of this species. The bird was a solitary individual,
found a few hundred yards from the beach, and when shot
fell over a cliff and was lost. Although flying well when
flushed, it covered but a short distance before alighting. In
the vicinity where it was first seen were many signs indi-
cating that the bird had been there for some time , or that a
flock had rested there during a migration. The young grass
just appearing above the ground furnished sufficient food.
5. Buteo borealis calurus.
Western Red-tail. — This is a resident species, and is
probably the hawk seen by Dr. Palmer, but of which no
specimen was obtained. They were not common, not more
than three or four being seen during any single day, and
probably the same birds were counted over several times in
the course of a week. At the time of my departure I esti-
mated their number as about equalling that of the Caracara
eagle. They were oftener seen toward the north where the
pines offered a high roosting-place. On pleasant days they
extended their hunting excursions toward the south, some-
times remaining for days in the vicinity of the small cypress
grove, but on the occasion of foggy or rainy weather they
disappeared, seeking shelter among the pines, where,
perched on branches close to the leeward side of the trunk,
they waited storm-bound till hunger or fair weather called
them away. Their extreme wariness and the nature of the
country prevented me from securing more than a single
specimen. This is an adult male, which was taken on the
edge of the small cypress grove January 5.
No nests were seen, but I have no doubt that among the
scattered pines these birds hatch and rear their young.
280 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
DIMENSIONS OF SPECIMEN COLLECTED.
Collector's No.
Sex and age.
Wing.
Tall-feathets.
Bill from nostril
Tarsus.
Middle toe
2403
$ ad.
1
mm. i mm.
38ir, 1 20i
mm.
23
mm.
70
mm.
48
Iris, dark brown. Cere, commissure and toes, chrome yellow. Length.
517 mm. Extent, 1249.5 mm.
6. Falco sparverius.
American Sparrow-Hawk. — During the two days spent
on the island in January, 1885, I saw a single pair of these
birds, but only succeeded in securing the female. My so-
journ during the winter and spring of the following year
showed the birds to be a resident species. It was seldom
that one could not approach within gun shot, even in open
ground, while the bird was sitting perched upon either a
boulder or the dead branch of a cypress. They especially
frequented the central and higher portions of the island.
By the middle of February male and female were seen in
company, one pair remaining near some isolated cypress
tree, while another pair had evidently taken up their abode
in a rocky cliff, the absence of suitable tree-cavities forcing
them to adopt some convenient hole in the rocks for a nest-
ing place.
Their means of subsistence, during the time of my obser-
vation, consisted of coleoptera, caterpillars and other insects,
upon which food they became quite fat. I did not see them
in pursuit of small birds, and believe it is not their custom
to molest them, at least while insect food can be obtained.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
■
Sex
Collector's
and
Date.
Wing.
Tail
Bill Irom
Tarsus.
Middle
No.
age.
feathers.
nostril.
toe.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2410
$
January 21, 1886
188
124
10
31
23
2520
$ ad
February 15, 1886
188
122
11
34
25
2519
^ad
February 15,1886
195
122
11.5
35
23
1687
^ad
January 15, 1885
192
125
11.5
36
21
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 281
The feet, cere and ophthalmic region, yellow in all four.
No. 2410. — Moulting. Blue of wings almost unspotted. Gizzard contained
beetles only.
No. 2520. — Contained insects.
No. 2519. — Very fat. Gizzard contained caterpillars.
7. Polyborus lutosus.
Guadalupe Caracara. — In January, 1885, during a two
days' excursion about the central part of the island, but
four *' Quelelis " were Seen. By 1886 their number had been
reduced by more than a score by the island agent, who
never missed an opportunity to kill one. Arriving on the
island in the summer time, when ,the birds came to the
shallow pools to drink, the agent would lie in wait behind
a boulder and pick them off with a rifle. The birds, if
missed, heeding not the shot, or, if but slightly wounded,
not realizing the danger, remained near, making certain the
destruction of all that came to drink at the fatal spring.
During my rambles I frequently came upon the weather-
beaten carcasses of '*' Quelelis " lying where they had fallen.
In one place, four were found lying dead together.
In regard to their numbers and destructive ness towards
the goats running wild there, the facts noticed by Dr. Pal-
mer in 1875, thoroughly substantiated by information given
me by sea-captains and seal-hunters, are not apparent at
the present time. Dr. Palmer's assistant, Mr. Harry Stew-
art of San Diego, writes me that he is unable to say how
many were on the island at the time he was there, but
that they were in great numbers.
Their range extends over the entire island, from beach to
summit. I believe that the killing of several goats each
week near the central part of the island, attracted almost
the entire number of *' Quelelis " to that vicinity,
Being of an unsuspicious character, they will allow a per-
son to walk directly towards them until within shooting dis-
tance, merely watching the intruder until the distance be-
comes less than agreeable. If they happen to be upon the
282 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
ground they beat a retreat at an awkward walk or, if neces-
sary, a run, taking wing only as a last resort, and even then
flying but a short distance before alighting. Their actions,
gait and positions, while on the ground are similar to those
of a buzzard. In flight, the light color on the primaries is
distinctly shown.
During several consecutive days, a "Queleli" came to my
camp, searching for scraps of food. One day I saw him
making ofl", at a walk, from the cook-house, carrying with
him a piece of bone from the leg of a goat, and upon which
a little raw meat still adhered. With this bone, fully nine
inches in length, grasped firmly in his bill, he retired to
what he considered a safe distance before commencing his
feast.
As far as my observations went, the birds were entirely
silent, but the agent informed me that when perchance a
rifle ball carried away a wing or a foot, the unfortunate bird
would scream long and loudly. If the wounded creature
happened to be in company with others of his kind, he
would be immediately attacked and killed. One which was
badly wounded attempted to escape by running, with the
assistance of his wings. Being overtaken and brought to
bay, instead of throwing himself on his back in an attitude
of defence, or uttering a cry for quarter, he raised his crest
and with an air of defiance, calmly awaited death as became
the Eagle of Guadalupe. Weakened by the loss of blood
which poured from a wound in his throat, he finally fell for-
ward and died — silent and defiant to the last.
If a goat was killed and not immediately taken to camp,
the hunter was almost certain to find upon his return that a
"Queleli" (rarely more than one) had taken possession of
the carcass.
Their food during the season of caterpillars consists
almost entirely of these larvae, with a slight variation
afforded by occasional beetles and crickets. Whenever op-
portunity offers they are ready to gorge themselves upon
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND.
283
the offal of a slain goat, retiring after the banquet to a con-
venient tree to await the process of digestion. I have never
known of their eating the bodies of their own species, but
they do not object to making a meal off' the flesh of a fat
petrel if fortune casts a dead one in their way.
The goats, I believe, are seldom molested in a time of
plenty by the few Eagles that remain, although during a
scarcity of food, it is not unlikely that they would attack a
kid or possibly even a full grown animal. By the latter
part of April, the birds had apparently not paired, and I
believe the eggs are not laid until the latter part of May or
June.
The Mexicans said that a cliff was always chosen for a
nesting place, thus making their nests difficult to find and
still more difficult of access. This being the case, I fear
the eggs will long remain unknown.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Culmen
Collector's No.
Sex and age.
Date.
Wing.
Tail.
from
cere.
Tarsus
Middle toe.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
1692
S ad.
Jan. 15, 1885
402
260
32
92
51
2387
S ad.
Jau. 4. 1886
390
260
33
84
53
2577
$ ad.
March 16, 1886
399
260
33
88
53
1691
ad.
Jan. 15, 1885
418
276
33
89
53
1699
ad.
Jan. 15, 1885
405
268
33
89
56
2408
?
ad.
Jan. 8, 1886
412
266
33
90
50
2504
ad.
Feb. 16, 1886
418
285
33
84
54
2581
ad.
March 22, 1886
414
273
33
90
55
2409
im.
Jan. 18, 1886
405
260
32
92
54
2576
$ im.
March 16, 1886
408
257
32
88
54
Remarks. — The adult birds have light-brown eyes. Bill, pale bluish
white. Cere, lores, feet and legs, chrome yellow. The yellow of lores as-
sumes a salmon color soon after death, but this disappears for a short time
if a finger is pressed upon the spot, resuming again the salmon color as the
skin dries. Immature birds have dark-brown eyes. Bill, light bluish.
Lores, not chrome yellow. Feet and legs, nearly "Naples yellow" in color.
All of the so-called immature birds which I have seen (five in number) have
been in worn or ragged plumage.
284 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
No. 1692— Length, 609 mm. One foot missiag from below the kuee; an
old wound.
No. 2387— Length, 603 mm. Extent, 1260.5 mm. Contained feathers and
pieces of goat meat.
No. 1691— Length, 631 mm. Extent, 1308 mm.
No. 25S1— Fat. Ovaries slightly enlarged. Stomach contained a foot and
some feathers of a petrel.
No. 2409 — Ovaries very small.
8. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea.
Burrowing Owl. — This species may or may not be one of
the two kinds of '^Strigidce' mentioned in the "Ornithology
of Guadeloupe Island," but of which no specimens have
ever been taken. It was the only species which I met with,
and I have no positive evidence of there being any other
owls on the island while I was there, although whenever a
favorable night offered itself, I seized the opportunity to
watch for nocturnal birds.
The Mexicaus said that there was a large Owl ("Teco-
lote"), which they had occasionally heard hooting at night,
but that it was very rare.
From Dr. Palmer's assistant, I learned that one of the
owls which was known to be on the island was a Horned
Owl {Bubo).
A single pair of Ground Owls were the only ones of this
species met with. They frequented the open ground on the
central part of the island near the alkali pools, appearing
only after dusk. The notes made at the time will perhaps
give the best idea of the bird's habits as far as these were
observed. The third night on which I had watched for
them was unusually calm and quite chilly. The lingering
twilight rendered objects still visible through the approach-
ing gloom. Nearing a large boulder beside which I pur-
posed to take my stand for that evening, I suddenly started
up one of the very birds of which I was in search. Fright-
ened by my approach, she rose a short distance in front of
me, and instead of alighting on a rock, as I expected, an.d
thus keeping me within sight, she dropped behind it, dis-
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 285
appearing instantly. As I cautiously circled around the
spot, I noticed her head peering out from one side of the
boulder, and at once fired. After smoothing out her plum-
age and placing her upon a rock, I stationed myself against
the boulder and gun in hand watched for the male whose
call I had heard issuing from the darkness. Soon the call
was repeated nearer than before, and the form of an owl
rose dark above the horizon not twenty feet away. He dis-
covered my presence just as I threw my gun into position,
and giving a cry of alarm, swerved off. He was, however,
too late and was soon placed upon the rock beside his maie.
They were both very fat. one was gorged with caterpillars,
the other contained a single small beetle.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
CoUector's number.
Sex and age.
Date.
2453
2452
i ad.
? ad.
Feb. 2, 1886.
Feb. 2, 1886.
Iris and feet yellow.
9. Golaptes rufipileus
Guadalupe Flickee. — Comparatively speaking, this bird
was not rare in the restricted area of the large cypress grove,
but apart from this locality less tlian a dozen were seen.
Three specimens were taken among some palms within a
short distance from the beach on the eastern side of the
island. One only was heard among the pines at the north -
ern portion, and in the vicinity of the large palm grove on
the northwestern slope they were occasionally seen.
Of all the species of this family I have ever met with,
none have been so tame and unsuspicious or less frightened
by the report of a gun. In January I witnessed a peculiar
habit not before noticed, I believe, in birds of this genus.
A pair of Flickers were perched facing each other upon a
20— Bull. Oal. Acad. Sci. II. 6. Issued January 5, 1887
286 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
gnarled root about three feet from the ground, their heads
within a foot of each other. Suddenly the male, who had
been sitting motionless before the female, began a some-
what grotesque performance, which consisted in a rapid
bobbing of his head. In this he was immediately followed
by the female. This spasmodic bobbing and bowing they
repeated alternately a few times, when both stopped as sud-
denly as they had commenced. After an interval of a few
seconds the male began again and was joined by the female.
The movement resembled more an upward jerk of the head
than a bow.
Approaching on my hands and knees to get a closer view,
I could hear a low chuckling sound while these strange ac-
tions were in progress. What the outcome of this love-
making — for such I regarded it — would have been I did not
ascertain. The fear of losing the specimens — almost the
first I had seen — prompted me to fire. The first shot
brought down the female. At the report away flew the
male, followed by another male, which, unseen by me, had
been quite near, on the ground. They returned while I was
still holding the female, and thus gave me an opportunity
of securing them both. Their evident lack of timidity per-
mitted me to draw near enough to plainly distinguish the
characteristic bright red cheek -patches. In February I
saw a repetition of the action above noted, the birds being
in a cypress tree above me. They were very tame, espe-
cially the female, who came quite near as I lay upon the
ground, whistling "qiiit-tu," '^qiiit-tu," and w^atching her
puzzled actions. In a half-dead cypress this pair had par-
tially pecked a cavity for a nest.
In addition to the familiar scythe-whetting notes they
have the peculiar ''wake -up" call and its rapid prelude of
monosyllables. By imitating this call I decoyed a distant
female to within short range, the bird coming through the
thickest of the cypress grove, stopping at short intervals to
call and listen for a reply.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 287
The food of this species during a portion of the year con-
sists largely of smooth-skinned caterpillars, besides numer-
ous beetles and ants; the latter are always obtainable and
growing to a large size figure as an important item of their
diet. The scarcity of decayed trees with the exception of fall-
en ones, necessitates either work upon seasoned wood or the
resort to dead palm stumps. The nests vvill therefore be
found at heights varying from three to fifteen feet.
By March 16, the birds were invariably found in pairs,
and my wish to secure a setting of eggs before departing
seemed in a fair way of being fulfilled. Strolling among
the cypress on the 27th of March, I found four trees upon
which the birds were at work or had been recently, and in
such cases the birds themselves were always to be found in
the immediate vicinity. Passing a half-dead tree I heard
the sounding taps of a woodpecker at work, and as I neared
the spot, the slight noise which I made as I carefully picked
my way over the rock-strewn ground caused a handsome
male bird to suddenly appear at an opening about four feet
high. With a foot grasping either side of the entrance he
gazed upon the intruder. Having comprehended the situa-
tion, he flew to another tree, where he quietly awaited my
inspection and departure. The hole was then down about
fifteen inches. By April 7, it had reached a depth of about
twenty inches and contained six fresh eggs, upon which the
female was then sitting. As no description has hitherto
appeared of the eggs of this species it may be well to pre-
sent here the measurements of this set. (No. 803, author's
oological collection.) They correspond exactly, both in
color and general shape, with scores of other eggs of this
genus, and offer the following measurements in millimeters :
28x22; 28x22; 28x22.5; 29x22; 29.5x22; 29.5x22.
A comparison of the measurements of the specimens
taken on Guadalupe Island with those of the same genus
which I have in my possession may be of interest.
Although on the one hand the collection from the island
288
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
is probably the largest that has been obtained, yet on the
other hand my series of the other form is not as full as could
be desired, and furthermore I possess neither specimen nor
description of the recently added variety saturatior. In the
late revision of the nomenclature of North American birds,
the variety liyhridus was rejected. It seemed improbable
that the wide departures from typical examples of either
aiiratus or cafer could be attributed to hybridism. This
fact impressed itself more and more on my mind by the
ever - increasing occurrence of the so-called Hybrid Flicker.
Specimens of this genus, however, are found which no
stretch of the imagination can reconcile with any existing
description of aaratus, cafer or ru/ipileus, and I have no
doubt that similar departures may be found in specimens of
chrysoides and saturatior.
DIMENSIONS OF 5 ad. C. RUFIP ILEUS.
Collector's No.
Date. 1886.
Wing.
Tall.
Tail-feathers
Bill from nostril.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2405
Jau. 8.
146
127
110
34
2406
Jan. 8.
149
123
112
32
2460
Feb. 2.
148
120
116
33
2509
Feb. 12.
145
126
116
32
2511
Feb. 12.
147
124
111
34
2514
Feb. 12.
150
122
108
30
2521
Feb. 15.
152
129
109
36.5
2522
Feb. 15.
145
125
108
34
2524
Feb. 19.
147
123
108
35
2525
Feb. 19,
146
128
114
36
Average . .
144.5
124.7
111.2
33.5
No. 2406.— Length 312 mm. Extent, 499 mm.
No. 2460.— Stomach gorged with large black ants.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 289
DIMENSION OF 2 ad. C. RUFIPILEUS.
Collector's No.
Date. 1886.
Wing.
Tail.
Tail-feathers.
Bill from nostril.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2380
Jan. 2.
149
126
Ill
29
2381
Jan. 4.
146
120
108
32 5
2407
Jan. 8.
143
119
104
33
2526
Jan. 23.
148
123
108
36
2427
Jan. 23.
148
125
110
31
2512
Feb. 12.
154
129
115
34
2513
Feb. 12.
148
124
109
32
2515
Feb. 12.
141
117
104
34
2516
Feb. 12.
146
120
107
33
2527
Feb. 19.
143
125
109
30
Average. . .
146.6
122.8
108.5
32.4
No. 2380.— Length 328.8 mm. Extent 487 mm. Iris dark reddish -brown.
No. 2381.— Length 312 mm. Extent 476 mm.
No. 2427.— Ovaries smalL
COLAPTES CAFER ? ad.
Collector's No.
Collector's Name.
Locality.
Date.
Bill from nostril.
169
W. E. Bryant.
Berkeley, Cal.
Jan. 22, 1881.
mm.
31
564
(( (i
Oakland, Cal.
Feb. 25, 1882.
32
599
<( 1%
Mt.Diablo,CaL
Apr. 1, 1882.
32 . 5
772
(( ( (
Oakland, Cal.
-Feb. 22, 1883.
30
1065
D. S. Bryant.
Mt.Diablo,Cal.
May 5. 1878.
31
1095
(( ((
Oakland, Cal.
Mar. 27, 1879.
31
1175
(C <(
Lafayette, Cal.
Mar. 20, 1883^
30
1742
W.E.Bryant.
Oakland, Cal.
Jan. 25, 1885.
32
1985
>C <(
Cl ((
Mar. 12, 1885.
31.5
2636
(( ((
Scott 'ht^. Cal.
May 28, 1883.
29
Average. . .
31
No. 564. — Cheek-patches indistinct.
No. 599. — Tail pinkish; crown, light tawny-brown.
No. 1065.— One outer tail-feather yellow.
No 1095. — Narrow, red nuchal crescent.
No. 1175. — Forehead brown.
No. 1742. — Crown rufous brown.
No. 2636. — Tail red; one outer feather yellow. Anterior portion of crown
tawny-brown. Caught on nest containing seven eggs.
290 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
COLAPTES CAFER $ ad.
Collector's No.
Collector's Name.
Location.
Date.
Bill from nostril.
980
1006
D. S. Bryant.
D. S. Bryant.
Oakland, Cal.
Gilroy, Cal.
Nov. 18, 1877.
Dec. 23, 1877.
33
34
By an inspection of the preceding tables, it will be seen
that the long bill is by no means a constant difference.
"While the length will average greater in j^flpileus, specimens
are found with the bill shorter than the average of cafer.
The two examples of cafer given in comparison with rufipi-
leus in the ' ' Ornithology of Guadeloupe Island " were from
Washington Territory, and under the present arrangement,
I presume would be classed as sakiratior, rather than as
" true Mexicanus" (cafer).
As yet I have seen no description of the male plumage of
the Guad^^upe Flicker, but I am informed that one is soon
to be published.
Some of the specific characteristics w^iich serve to distin-
guish this insular species from the continental form, cafer,
will be briefly noticed.
In the majority of the specimens before me, the charac-
teristic of the more pinkish tinge to the rump and upper
tail coverts — especially the latter — seems to hold good.
But in some individuals these parts are whiter than will be
found in certain specimens of cofer. By raising the upper
tail coverts and viewing them from the under side, the
depth of the coloring may be best determined- This is of a
sulphurous tinge in auratus.
The bright tawny forehead is usually brighter in the
males, and extends farther back on the neck. No specimens
of cafer, which I have examined, are as richly marked as the
most typical examples of rufipileus, but individuals of the
latter sometimes posysess less of the tawny brown than ex-
treme cases among cafer.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 291
I have found but two exceptions to the extent of black on
the ends of the retrices. One in the case of a female rvfipi-
leus, in which the black reaches only about 38 mm. from
the ends of the feathers, and the other a female cafer (ior-
merly liyhridus) in which the black extends about 57 mm.
In typical rufipileus, the black covered about 63 mm. of the
ends. This I found to be the most constant difference.
The absence in every case of a definite or clearly defined
cheek-patch in the females, and also the absence of mar-
ginal light spots on the outer web of the exterior retrices in
both sexes, will aid in determining this species. These
spots, although rarely if ever wanting in typical cafer are
seldom or never found in rufipileiis. An apparent exception
is found in a male from Guad^j^upe Island, which has a
slight touch of light on the webs.
10. Micropus melanoleucus.
White-throated Swift. — On January 12, a flock of about
fifty swifts passed near camp, moving towards the north-
east. They flew in every direction, but kept well together,
and gradually ascended to a higher altitude. I could not
get near enough to distinguish any characteristic markings.
They were again seen during a few hours of sunshine on the
15th, but only at a distance.
A storm of wind, rain and dense fog, which had lasted
almost without interruption for twelve days, cleared away
January 21, and with the welcome and returning sunshine
came the swifts. They were flying lower than usual, and
occasionally one would chatter as he swept above the tree-
tops. The birds were feeding upon a species of slender
black fly, with which the air was swarming, and although
dispersed for a time by the report of a guu, they soon re-
turned to their feast. As late as April, they were still on
the island, but only a few at a time were seen, the flock hav-
ing evidently separated, although not apparently paired off.
One calm day, about a dozen birds were seen skimming low
over the grass in the manner of swallows. As far as my ob-
292
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
servations go, this is something unusual for this species,
which usually descends towards the earth only in dull, rainy
weather in pursuit of insects driven lower by the humid
atmosphere. If the birds were to remain on the island dur-
ing the summer, they could find an abundance of suitable
nesting places in the cliffs, either on the shore or on the
side of the table-land where the small cypress grove stands.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Collector's number.
Sex and age.
Date.
2411
2584
9 ad.
9 ad.
Jan. 21, 1886.
March 26, 1884.
2584. — Ovaries, small.
11. Trochilus anna.
Anna's HuMMma-BiRD. — This diminutive straggler is no
doubt the species seen by Dr. Palmer eleven years agOj but
of which he did not succeed in obtaining a specimen. I
had been in hopes of finding in this bird a new species of
hammer. When the month of March arrived and I had not
even caught a glimpse of the bird, although on one or two
occasions I had heard it buzz as it went past, my hopes of
securing this unidentified species were almost gone, and I
fully resolved to shoot on sight the first I saw. Keturning
one day to my temporary camp from an excursion through
the pine belt, both barrels of my gun loaded with round
ball (IJ oz.), I stopped at the foot of a fallen pine, intent
upon watching a small band of goats, when suddenly my
Mexican companion seized my arm and whispered : "la
chuparrosa, senor." Following with my eyes the direction
indicated by his outstretched hand, I saw a female hummer
upon a dead twig among the pine branches, pluming her-
self. The feelings I experienced some years ago in meeting a
panther, at dusk, in a wooded canon when my gun was
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 293
loaded for quail, were not dissimilar to those which now
came over me as I gazed upon the coveted hummer not fif-
teen feet away, and realized that my gun contained ball.
As I broke open the breech and dropped the provoking
loads, the bird rose and hovering about for a few seconds,
during which I reloaded and waited in a fever of suspense,
she returned to nearly the same spot, when I fired and killed
— only an Anna humming-bird. Later I took another fe-
male, and afterwards a male, the two latter being found in
the small cypress grove. The dearth of honied flowers must
at times force them to subsist almost entirely upon insect
food. The Mexicans told me that I would find them in
great numbers about the palm trees on the northwestern
slope; but an expedition to that region resulted in a total
failure as far as the object for which it was undertaken was
concerned, although the addition of two more straggling
species to those already taken compensated me for the fa-
tigue of the journey.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collector's No.
Sex and age.
Date. 1886.
2588
2531
2582
S ad.
? ad.
? ad.
March 29.
March 4.
March 22.
12. Sturnella magna neglecta.
Western Meadow lark. — A single specimen was seen in
the palm grove on the 22d day of March. Although I ap-
proached quite. near as he sat, loudly singing from the top
branch of a fallen pine, I failed to capture him. That un-
successful shot, one of the '' unaccoun tables" of a hunter-
naturalist's experiences, seemed at the time to be one of the
keenest disappointments of my life.
13. Carpodacus amplus.
Guadalupe House Finch. — When I arrived at the island
294 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
in January, 1885, a few birds, usually in pairs, were found
near the settlement. At the door of one of the huts, hang-
ing in a cage, were several of this species, one of which,
an adult male, had assumed the yellow plumage which others
of this genus take on when confined.
Soon after settling on the top of the island in December,
1885, the " Gorrions " began to collect about the camp,
making the mornings joyous with their song.
By our refraining from discharging fire-arms in the im-
mediate vicinity of the camp, they soon became quite tame,
hopping about camp during the day, and roosting at night in
the thickest cypress, or, during a storm, under the eaves of
the palm-thatched huts. On the 24th of January I counted
fourteen within a stone's throw of camp, and attracted by
the bread crumbs and other food which I threw out for
them, their numbers daily increased until on the 1st of
February the census of birds in camp, including both sexes,
showed a total of twenty-two. Two weeks later they sud-
denly departed, and were to be found only in pairs about
the cypress groves, save in the center of the pine belt,
where the blossoms and seeds of the '' chick-weed " some-
times attracted a flock of half a dozen, who busied them-
selves feasting upon this tender food. Nothing, either in
their habits or song, differed from C. frontalis rhodocolpus.
They are easily entrapped under a box, and it was in this
way that the Mexican women at the settlement succeeded in
catching, during my stay, as many as two or three dozen,
which they ate.
The dissection of specimens showed the food to consist
chiefly of seeds from the cypress tree, mingled with green
seeds of " chick-weed." Some of those taken near camp
had their crops well filled with bits of tallow picked from
the body of a goat which had been dressed and hung under
a tree.
Two nests were found in cypress trees nearly completed
by February 22. A nest and set of five fresh eggs (No. 792,
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 295
author's oological collection), which in consequence of a
heavy storm had been deserted, was taken on the 1st of March.
From this date began the nesting season of this species.
The last nest, taken April 7th, contained five eggs, with
small embryos in them. In nearly every instance, the birds
selected for a nesting place the upper side of a cypress
branch in the angle formed by its intersection with the
trunk, thus avoiding the storm-shaken foliage. They seemed
to show a preference for the leeward side of a tree, where
the nest would be protected from prevailing winds. One
prudent couple had built in a clump of mistletoe, at a height
of twenty feet.
Several pairs built in the tops of palms. The nests were
ordinarily not more than ten or fifteen feet from the ground.
The birds make but slight demonstrations while their nest
is being removed, uttering only a few notes of protest, or
silently witnessing a wrong hitherto unknown to them.
The material used for the outer structure of the nests
consisted of the dark, dead stems of weeds, only the finer
ones being selected. One nest found in a pine tree, had
the foundation and sides made of pine needles, with the
invariable lining of goat's hair, black or white being used
indiscriminately. The external diameter of the nest is
about 130 mm., with a central cavity of about 65 mm.
The eggs, sometimes four in number, but oftener five
during the early part of the season, are colored precisely
like the average specimens of C. frontalis rhodocol'pus, the
sjjots being either sparingly applied or entirely wanting.
They also resemble them in general shape, but the size
serves to distinguish them. The five eggs of set No. 792,
measure respectively 22 x 15; 22 x 15.5; 22.5 x 15.5; 23 x
15.5; 23 X 16.5 mm. The length measurement varies from
19.5-24 mm., and the width 15-16.5 mm. The average of
thirty-two specimens is 21.3 x 15.5 mm.
In the table of measurements, I have selected from a good
296
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
series, those which exhibit extreme size, more or less, as
well as average specimens.
DIMENSIONS OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collec-
Sex and
Tail-
Bill from
Depth of
Breadth
Tar-
Middle
tor's
Date.
Wing.
No.
agf.
feathers
nostril.
bill.
of bill.
sus.
toe.
mm
mm
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
]682
S ad.
Jan. 15, 1885.
83
65
11
12
9
19
18
1688
$ ad.
Jan. 15, 1885.
81
63
10.5
12
9
20
16
2376
S ad.
Jan. 2, 1886.
82
64
10.5
12
9.5
19.5
16
2377
$ ad.
Jan. 2, 1886.
80
63
n
12
9
19.5
17
2465
$ ad.
Feb. 16, 1886.
82
62
10.5
11
9
19
16
2469
$ ad
Feb. 16, 1886.
83
65
11
11
8.5
19.5
16
2544
S ad.
Mar. 4, 1886.
84
63
10
11.5
9
19
15
2545
im.
Mar. 4, 1886.
80
62
11
11
9
19
17
2549
S ad.
Mar. 4, 1886.
79
61
10
10
8
18
16
2550
$ ad.
age.. . .
Mar. 4, 1886.
81
81.5
63
11
12
9
19
16
Aver
63.1
10 6
11.4
8.9
19.1
16.6
No. 2376.— Testes very small. Length 174 mm.
No. 2377. -Length 171 mm. Extent 263 mm.
Extent 266 mm.
Collect-
Sex
Tail
Bill
Depth of
Breadth
Tar-
Middle
or's
and
Date.
Wing.
from
No.
age.
feathers.
nostril.
bill.
of bill.
sus.
toe
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
1681
Vat/.
Jan. 15, 1885
82
62
11
9
20
17
1686
'^ad.
Jan. 15, 1885
80
62
10
9
19
17
2689
^ad.
Jan 15, 1885
72
62
10
9
19
16
2378
^ad.
Jan. 2, 1886
79
60.5
10.5
8.5
18.5
17
2660
^ad.
Feb. 16, 1886
79
63
10
9
18
16
2420
'^ad.
Jan. 23, 1886
78
57
10
9
18
16
2472
'^ad
Feb. 16, 1886
79
61
10
9
19
17
2551
^ad.
March 4, 1886
72
59
10.5
8.5
19
17
2552
"^ad.
March 4, 1886
79
59
11
9
19
17
2553
Had.
March 4, 1886
79
60
11
9
19
16
Average
77.9
60.5
10.4
11
8.9
18.8
16.6
No. 2378. — Ovaries very small. Length, 167.5 mm. Extent, 258 mm.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 297
14. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi.
Mexican Crossbill.— This specie^ found only through
the narrow pine belt, I estimated to number about a score.
They remained high up in the pines, flying hurriedly among
the tree tops, uttering what seemed to me a frightened note.
Occasionally a pair, seldom a single bird, would be seen on
the top of a fallen tree, but never upon the ground. The
only food which dissection proved them to have been feed-
ing upon, was pine seeds. No nests were found, although
several were no doubt being built, if not already completed
by the middle of February. A comparison of the island
cross-bill with typical examples of minor and stricMandi,
shows it to belong to the latter variety, although the upper
mandible is nearlv or quite one-third thicker than the lower.
If we assign all Eastern birds to minor and Western ones
to stricklandi, an exception must be made of No. 78,186,
which in the Smithsonian Institution is labeled minor,
although it came from Santa Cruz, California.
'*The diversity in general size, size and shape of bill, -and
color which they present is enough to convince any one that
these characters are subject to a wide range of variation and
are not dependent, except within broad limits, on geograph-
ical considerations. ■5«- * ^ * -^ ^ It seems obvious
that the variations just referred to are either purely indi-
vidual or dependent on age."^
In the following tabulated measurements, the length of
the exposed culmen is given on account of having been
oftener measured, although it is more difficult to determine
accurately than the distance from nostril, which is also in-
cluded. The bill is found curving to the right as often as
to the left.
Note '^—William Brewster in Auk. Vol. VIII. No. 2. p. 261.
298 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Col-
Ex-
posed
culmen.
Bill from
Depth
Mid-
lect'rs
Sex and
age.
Date. 1886.
Wing.
Tail
j feathers
of bill
at
Tar-
sus,
dle
toe&
No.
nostril.
base.
claw.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2474
^
a^
Feb. 16.
93
54.5
16
14
10
16.5
20
2475
^
arZ.
*' "
87
51
15
13
9
14
19
2476
(^
ad.
(( <<
100
60
18
16
11
17
20
2480
c^
im.
»< a
88.5
53
15
14
10
14 5
19.5
2481
5
ad.
Average . . .
88
52.5
17.5
15
10.5
16
15.6
19.5
91.3
52.2
16.3
14.4
10.1
19.6
2477
?
ad.
Feb. 16.
87
52
15
13.5
9
14
19
2478
?
ad.
(< ( c
84
52
16
14
9
14
18
2479
?
ad.
<t ((
90
52
16
14.5
10.5
16
22
2554
?
ad.
March 4.
Average. ..
90
87.7
52
17
15
9.5
17
20
52
16
14.2
9.5
15.2
19.7
LOXIA CUKVIROSTRA STRICKLANDI.
Col.
lec-
tr's
No.
Sex
and
age.
cfad
Collector
C.E.Aiken
L. Locke .
Locality.
WniteMt8.,Ar
Olema, Cal.
Wing
mm.
100
85
Tail
feath-
ers.
mm.
60
51
Ex- Bill
posed from
cul- nos-
men.; tril.
Depth
of bill
at
base.
'J'ir-
sus.
Mid-
dle
toe&
claw
Date.
705
1
mm. mm.
19 16.5
15 13
mm.
11
8
mm
18
14.5
mm.
21
21
Sep. 30, '76
The first is in collection of H. W. Henshaw, the second in collection of W.
O. Emerson.
15. Zonotrichia coronata.
Golden-crowned Sparrow. — Three birds of this species
were found feeding upon "chick-weed" amongst the pines.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collector's Number.
Sex and age.
Date, 1886.
Remarks.
25f.2
2503
2532
Feb. 16.
Feb. 16.
March 4.
Moulting.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND.
299
16. Spizella socialis arizonae.
Western Chipping Sparrow.— Returning to camp one
noon, I heard the song-note of this species, and was for-
tunate enough to secure it. No others were known to be on
the island.
In accordance with the division of S. socialis into Eastern
and Western forms, this single specimen, taken on Guada-
lupe Island, would have to be assigned to the variety ari-
zonce, but in point of fact it will not answer to the original
description (Coue's Key, 1872, p. 143), wherein no measure-
ments are given. A later description, however (B. B. & R.
Hist. N. Am. B., 1874,Yol. II, p. 11), may be made applicable
to the case of western birds which I have seen from this
State by omitting from the original description: ''black
frontlet lacking, and no definite ashy superciliary line, the
sides of the crown merelv lighter brown; bill brown, pale
below."
Excepting the bill, which is ''brown, pale below," in
this instance, the measurements fall within the limitations
of arizonce.
DIMENSIONS OF SPECIMENS.
Collector's
No.
Sex
and
age
Date.
Wing.
Tail.
Tail
feath-
ers.
Bill
from
nos-
tril.
m m.
6
Tar-
sus.
mm
Middle toe
and claw.
Length.
Extent.
2394.
$
Jan. 6, 1886.
mm,
72
mm.
64
mm.
60
mm.
15
mm.
147.5
mm.
231.5
17. Junco hyemalis oregonus.
Oregon Junco. — One bird, which was quite shy, was
taken among the pines on a cold, windy day, during which
the tops of the trees and part of the timber belt were at
times entirely enveloped by fog. When first seen this bird
was being viciously attacked by a resident junco (insularis).
300 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
DIMENSIONS OF SPECIMEN.
Collector's
No.
Sex and age.
Date.
Wing.
Tail
feathers.
Bill from
nostril .
Tarsus.
Middle toe.
2189
(?)5 ad.
Feb. 16, 1886
mm.
71
mm.
62
mm.
7.5
mm.
20
mm.
16
Remarks — The wing and tail are both a trifle shorter than specimeus
from Oakland (3) and Big Trees, Cal., (1), but no more than might be ex-
pected in individual variation.
18. Junco insular is.
Guadalupe Junco. — In his notes, Dr. Palmer refers to
this species as "the most abundant birds of the island,"
etc. According to my observation they rank about third in
relative abundance, the rock-wrens and linnets taking pre-
cedence. No juncos were found at a lower altitude than
the palm grove, and the majority were inhabitants of the
pines and large cypress grove. A pair \.hich was evidently
mated was taken in the small cypress grove on the 15th of
January, 1885. The following year not more than two or
three were seen in this locality.
I did not find them noticeably tamer than the linnets,
nor so confiding as the rock- wrens. Their food was princi-
pally of seeds, a partiality being shown for the green seeds
of the " Avild lettuce." Their song was twice heard from
the top of tall cypress trees. It resembles somewhat the
trill of the chipping sparrow. They also had a sharp chip-
ping note when alarmed. They remained mostly either
upon the ground or low down in the branches of trees. The
limbs of a fallen pine were a favorite resort at all times, and
the ground underneath most used as a nesting-place.
The Blue "Gorrions" mated early — soon after the be-
ginning of the year — and were setting by the 26th of Jan-
uary, regardless of the almost continuous fogs and winds.
A nest found March 10 contained four young, hatched but a
few days before. It was placed in a depression, flush with
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 301
the surface of the ground, and so carefully hidden beneath
a covering of brush that it was found with difficulty, even
though I was guided by hearing the young " peeping" for
food. The parent birds, who were close by, seemed but
little alarmed, uttering only an occasional chirp while I
searched for their treasure. Six days later the nest was
vacant, being probably robbed by a stray cat.
Full fledged young were taken March 16; also a nest with
three fresh eggs, which had been found nearly completed on
the 10th. The position of the nest was curious and unique,
and it was only by seeing the birds at work building that I
succeeded in discovering it. A pine tree with a cleft
six feet from the ground, or rather two trees with a common
trunk, grew near to the edge of a precipice, and in this nar-
row cleft partially filled with pine needles the juncos had
built. By standing on a pile of rocks and branches I could
see the eggs lying in the nest, about a foot below where the
trees joined. A fluff of cotton pushed down on the end of a
stick to cover the nest, protected the eggs from bits of
bark and chips, while I enlarged the opening to a sufficient
size to admit my hand. While the eggs were being care-
fully placed in a collecting box, the birds, who had remained
interested rather than alarmed witnesses to the spoliation,
tlew to the tree, and, while the male clung to the bark at
the entrance, the female hopped down within and began the
removal of the debris which had fallen upon the edge of the
nest. This was at length cleared away by repeated trips
into the hole, each journey bringing to the opening a bit of
wood, which was promptly dropped to the ground. The
nest is composed of a few pieces of bark-moss, light-colored
dry grass blades, and a tail feather of a petrel, all surround-
ing a quantity of grass blades, lined within with goat hair.
It measures externally about 120 mm. in diameter by 80
mm. in height, with a receptacle 60 mm. in diameter and
onty 28 mm. in depth.
The three eggs which the nest contained (set No. 797,
21— Bull. Cal. Acad. Sci. II. 6. Issued January 5, 18H7.
302
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
author's oblogical collection) were probably a second setting,
the ragged appearance of the female's plumage indicating
previous cares. In color the eggs are a pale greenish white,
marked with fine dots of reddish brown clustered around
the larger end. They measure 19.5x15; 20x15.5; 20x16
millimeters.
MEASUREMENTS OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collector's
Sex and
Date. Wing.
Tall
Bill from
Depth of
Tarsus.
Middle
No.
age.
i
feathers.
nostril.
bin.
toe.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
1683
Sad.
Jan. 15, 1885.
71
61
9.5
7
20
15
2375
Sad.
Jan. 2, 1886.! 70
62.5
9.5
6
20
15
2385
Sad.
Jan. 4, 1886.' 70.5
64
9.5
6.5
20
15.5
2418
Sad.
Jan. 23, 1886.! 65
57
9.5
6.5
19.5
15.5
2431
Sad.
Jan. 26, 1886.; 70
60
9.
7
19.5
16
2434
Sad.
Jan. 26, 1886.1 65
59
9.
6.5
20
14
2442
Sad.
Jan. 29, 1886. 68
57
9.5
6.5
19.5
15
2458
Sad.
Feb. 4, 1886.1 69.5
60.5
10.
6.5
20
15
2537
Sad.
March 4. 1886.; 68
60
8.5
6.5
19
15
2575
Sad.
March 16, 1886. 71
62
10.
7
19
15
Average
68.8
60.3
9.4
6.6
19.6
15.1
1684
9 ad.
Jan. 15, 1S85.
65
56
9.
7
20
15
2432
$ad.
Jan. 26, 1886.
64
55
9.
6
20
14.5
2574
2 ad.
March 16, 1886.
Average
62
63.6
5i
8.5
6
19
15
55
8.8
6.3
19.6
14 8
No. 2375. -Testes large; length, 155 mm.; extent, 223 mm.
No. 2385.— Length, 162 mm.; extent, 230 mm.
No. 2431.— Testes very large; mate of No. 2432.
No. 2458. — Tes'es very large.
No. 2432.— Setting; mate of No. 2431; parents of nest No. 797.
19. Melospiza lincolni.
Lincoln's Sparrow. — The small cypress grove, on the
border of which I had my permanent camp, was my favor-
ite ground for observation and furnished me with many
stragglers, among which was a pair of these birds. They
were taken on different days from among the brush inclosing
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND.
303
an old goat corral. The slightest noise would drive them
into the dense brush, from which they would again appear
when all was quiet.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collector's No.
Sex and age.
Date. 1886.
Remarks.
2461
2523
S ad.
? ad.
Februarj'^ 5.
February 19.
Testes small.
Ovaries small .
20. Fasserella iliaca unalaschensis.
Townsend's Sparrow. — One bird was taken among the
pines, but so badly cut by the shot that the sex could not
be determined. No others were seen.
DATA OF SPECIMEN COLLECTED.
Collector's Number.
Age.
When Collected.
2490
^ad.
Feb. 16, 1886.
21. Pipilo consobrinus.
Guadalupe Towhee. — The towhees were found only in
the large cypress grove. They were easily overlooked un-
less directly in one's path among the trees. When singing
the bird could be readily traced and secured, but in such
cases it was always a male. Only two females were seen,
and I cannot believe that their number was in any degree
equal to that of the males, for otherwise I do not believe it
possible that I could have so completely overlooked them,
even though they might have been setting. I was about
the grove at all hours of the day, camped there, and was
astir at break of dawn, even before the male towhee had
mounted his throne on the topmost branch of a cypress and
had sounded his morning trill. This song closely resem-
bles that of P. maculatus megalonyx, but has one important
304 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
variation which was almost invariably given, and which I
have never heard from megalonyx. This consists in a single
quick note, somewhat like a bluebird's, given immediately
before the trill, as though it was the click or chuck of the
machinery that released the sound which followed. At a
distance, when the trill could be distinctly heard, the single
quick chuck would pass unnoticed. When I first heard this
combination it occurred to me that a bluebird was in the
same tree or near by, but closer observation proved the
Towhee to be the sole author of it.
The only food upon which they fed consisted of insects.
A young bird in company with the adult pair was found in a
fallen cypress top, but no eggs of this species were taken.
Ch. — Young (first plumage). Above rusty olive brown,
darker on sides of head. Feathers of interscapular region
black, edged, more broadly on the outer web, with pale
brown. Underparts yellowish brown, darkest on throat,
grading into white ou the abdomen and to light reddish
brown on side; the feather streaked with black. Sides of
chin, black, leaving a light line of about the same width
between. White markings on . wings and visible edges of
greater wing coverts narrowly edged with rusty brown.
Eyes muddy brown.
(No. 2585. Author's collection, Guadalupe Island,
March 26, 1886.)
Wing, 80 mm; Tail feathers, 71 mm.; Bill from nostril,
7.5 mm.; Tarsus, 23 mm.: middle toe, 20 mm.; hind claw,
12 mm.
It much resembles on the back the young plumage of the
same age of P. maculatus oregonus (No. 983. Author's collec-
tion, Wilbur, Or., June 20, 1883), but the latter is darker
on sides of neck, and has the feathers of sides and crissum
rich reddish-brown.
The underparts correspond closely to the young of P.
maculatus megalonyx (No. 2298, author's collection, Oakland,
Cal., June 3, 1885), which is somewhat younger. I believe
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND.
305
if they were of the same age it would be impossible to sep-
arate them.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collector's
Sex and
When
colle",ted,
Wing
Tail
Tail
Bill
from
Depth
Breadth
Tar-
Mid-
dle
Hind
No.
age
1886
feathers
nos-
tril
of bill
of bill
sus
toe
claw
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2419
Sad.
Jan. 23
80
86
97
9
9
7
26
18
13
2459
Sad.
Feb. 2
78
81
88
9.5
9
7
26
18
13
2506
Sad.
Feb. 12
78
85
93
9
9
7.5
25
19
14
2507
Sad.
Feb. 12
80
86
94
9.5
9
7
26"
18
12
2508
Sad.
Feb. 12
80
88
96
10
9
7
24
19
13
2569
sad.
Mar. 12
79
83
90
9 5
8.5
7
25
19
13
2570
Sad.
Mar. 12
79
86
94
9.5
9
7
24
19.5
13
2571
Sad.
Mar. 12
80
87
94.5
9.5
9
7
24.5
19.5
13
2580
Sad.
Mar. 22
80
87
96
10
9
7
24.5
20
13.5
2587
Sad.
Mar. 26
Av'g...
81.5
79.5
87
95
10
8.5
6.5
24
19
13
85.6
93.7
9.5
8.9
7
24 9
18.9
13
2388
'^ad.
Jan 5
74
75.5
9.5
10
9
9
6.5
7
24
25.5
18
19
13
13
2586
Mar. 26
Avg...
81
90
No. 2419. — Testes large. Iris orange, tinged with carmine around pupil.
No. 2459. — Iris orange, tinged with carmine.
No. 2507. — Iris carmine.
No. 2569.— Iris carmine.
No. 2388.— Iris orange.
22 Ampelis cedrorum.
Cedar Waxwing. — Christmas morning was the brightest
and fairest I enjoyed during more than one hundred days
of my sojourn on the island. Taking a stroll through the
small cypress grove in search of birds not before met with,
I was rewarded by seeing what I supposed to be one of this
species, but was unable to capture it. Nothing was seen or
heard of it again for more than a month, until one pleasant
afternoon, as I was engaged in preparing specimens in the
.tent, I heard the notes of the Cedar Bird close by, and
306 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
going outside, was just in time to get a flying shot at the
retreating bird — but missed it. Those who have had a
similar experience can imagine my feelings when that bird
disappeared. I knew, beyond any reasonable doubt, that it
was^. cedrorum, yet the lack of any positive evidence of
the fact, left me brooding over my disappointment for the
next two hours. The unexpected reappearance of the bird,
however, quickly dispelled the gloom. This time I took all
possible precaution, and succeeded in making this hand-
some addition to my collection of Guadalupe stragglers.
DATA OF SPECIMEN COLLECTED.
Collector's Number.
Sex and age.
Date.
2437
$ im.
Jan. 28, 1886.
Kemarks— No wax tips.
23. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides.
White-rumped Shrike. — Two specimens of these butcher-
birds were seen on the central part of the island. Both
were heard singing in low, liquid tones, quite pleasing to the
ear. They were very shy, although to a less degree tluan
birds of the same species which were met with in 1885 on
Cerros Island, Lower California.
Considering the abundance of larvae, coleopterous insects
and occasional grasshoppers, one would suppose that the
"menu" of the Shrike left nothing for her to desire, but
on dissecting a specimen, I found amongst the caterpillars,
which the distended gizzard contained, a tiny golden foot of
Guadalupe's sweetest songster, the Dusky Kinglet.
In color this bird is much lighter than the same species
from Oakland, Cal., and more closely resembles specimens,
from Tulare, Cal., and Tucson, A. T.
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND.
DATA OF SPECIMEN COLLECTED.
307
Collector's Number.
Sex and age.
When Oollected.
2370
? ad.
December 29, 1885.
24. Dendroica auduboni.
Audubon's Waebler.— The only ones seen, two in num-
ber, were taken on stormy days in the small cypress grove.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collector's Number.
Sex.
Date.
2368
2404
5
December 28. 1885.
January 12, 1886.
25. Anthus pensilvanicus.
American Pipit. — On the evening of February 2, while
going to the alkali pools to watch for owls, I heard faintly
the note of a Titlark. The evening was very calm, the sun,
just set, cast a beautiful afterglow about the sky; there was
just light enough remaining to enable me to distinguish the
birds working- their way among the rocks. That I might
make sure of at least a single specimen for identification, I
fired at the one nearest me. The flock, about twenty-five in
number, at once rose and circled past out of range, and I
saw them no more.
DATA OF SPECIMEN COLLECTED.
Collector's No.
Sex.
Date.
■
2451
5 (?)
February 2, 1886.
26. Oroscoptes montanus.
Sage Thrasher. — In making my rounds of the small cy-
press grove on a cold, cloudy and windy morning in Jan-
308
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
iiary, I saw and heard fewer birds than ever before or since.
It was seldom that I did not take or note something of in-
terest on these short excursions, and on tliis day I secured
a handsome specimen of the Sage Thrasher, which was
found among the leafless branches of a fallen tree. No song
nor even a single note was heard from him.
DATA OF SPECIMEN COLLECTED.
Collector's No.
Sex and age.
Date.
2400
$ ad.
January 7, 1886.
Remarks— Iris yellow. Fat. Contained only caterpillars.
27. Mimus polyglottos.
Mocking Bird. — Two birds, apparently a mated pair,
were seen on a fallen pine at the northern edge of the palm
grove. First attracted to the place by the delightful song
which floated upon the air, I saw one of the birds in the act
of pouncing upon something in the grass, in the manner of
a shrike. When alarmed they flew higher and higher among
the branches of a tall pine, so that only the female was cap-
tured. Having never before seen this bird in a wild state,
I regretted the act which, in compliance with strict scientific
requirements, deprived that sea bound spot of so much
sweet music.
SPECIMEN COLLECTED.
Collector's No
Sex and age.
Date.
2579
? ad.
March 16, 1886.
Remaiks -Iris yellow. Ovaries small.
28. Salpinctes guadelonpensis.
Guadalupe Eock Wren. — This species, undoubtedly the
most common of the birds on the island, was distributed
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 309
from the beach to tlie summit, but was found to be most
numerous on the upper and central portions. They were by
nature tamer than anv birds I ever met with. "While re-
treating, if approached, they would in turn draw quite near
to a person who remained perfectly quiet. Sitting down
one afternoon upon a log, I saw a Eock Wren come hopping
closer and closer to where I was resting, until at length he
perched upon my shoe. Then seeing a sandy spot just be-
yond, he availed himself of the opportunity by taking a
dust-bath. So close was he to me that I could have reached
him with my foot, yet constantly in motion, searching here
and there among the rocks for food, he seemed entirely un-
conscious of my presence. Even when standing they are
seldom quiet, a nervous twitch of the tail or toss of the head
bearing witness to the incessant activity so characteristic of
these little cieatures.
Seldom silent, the}^ have, in addition to their ringing call,
ii considerable variety of song, I became accustomed to
the variations of four or five different birds, and noticed
that each had a song peculiar to himself but differing from
the songs of his fellows. One little wren near camp was in
the habit of beginning his song each morning at about half-
past six, never varying five minutes from his self-appointed
time. They are usually seen on the ground or upon a rock
or stump. One remarkably foggy morning, I noticed one
sitting on the top of a sage-bush, while on fine days, I have
seen them mounted to the height of twenty feet on a dry
cypress twig, singing their cheerful song.
Their food consisted mainly of caterpillars and beetles.
I watched one pick to pieces and devour successively three
small Carabide beetles.
The weather does not seem to be taken into consideration
by any of the resident species. The rock-wrens are the
first to begin nesting, and endeavor to conduct their do-
mestic affairs through the stormiest times, though not
always with success. Many abandoned nests were found,
310 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
some with and some without eggs, deserted, probably, on
account of long continued Avet weather. The location of
the nest, however, plays an all-important part in the success
or failure of the first builders. A few birds began the con-
struction of their nests in December, and one had her work
nearly completed on the 25th of December, 1885. Four
fresh eggs were found in it on January 17th. The breeding
season, strictly speaking, extends from the middle of Jan-
uary through the month of March.
Nests were found in cavities of immense boulders, under
rocks, in fallen and decayed trunks of cypress trees, the
latter location being apparently a favorite one. But wher-
ever the nests were located the passages leading to them
were, with one or two exceptions, paved with flat pebbles
ranging in size from a Lima bean to a half dollar. Fully a
quart of these pebbles were removed from the entrance to
a nest built in a boulder at a height of four feet, where, at
some previous time, other birds had evidently built and
accumulated their share of the pavement. As a rule scarcely
an ordinary handful of stones are used. The nest is built
in close conformity to the size and shape of the cavity
which it occupies, being usually circular and varying from
a shallow bed of fine dry grasses to a nest of tlie same ma-
terial measuring 150 mm. in diameter and 60 mm. high.
The egg receptacle is from 55 mm. to 70 mm. in diameter,
and not more than 30 mm. in depth. A lining of goat
hair when obtainable is invariably used. I followed one
bird fully an hundred yards from the spot where she had
collected some goat hair before the nest was reached.
The eggs are usually four, though sometimes five in
number, and resemble both in color and shape those of
the common rock-wren {S. ohsoletus).
Set No. 781 (author's oological collection) measures:
17 X 14; 17 X 14.5: 18 x 14.5; 18.5 x 14.5 mm.
Set No. 782 (author's oological collection) offers the fol-
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 311
lowing measurements in millimeters: 19 x 14; 19 x 14;
19.5 xl4.5; 19.5 x 14.5; 19.5 x 15.
The average size ascertained from a series of fifty-five
eggs, is 19 X 14 mm.
The two largest eggs measured 21 x 15 mm. and 20 x 16
mm. respective!}'-; the two smallest, 17 x 14 mm.
Two different stages of the young plumage were taken,
descriptions of which are here given :
Ch. — Young. Above similar to adult but "iuucJi darker,
especially the head and neck, which lack the speckled mark-
ings. Wings and tail as in adult but darker, the bars
across middle tail-feathers dull black. The outer half of the
pale cinnamon on end of tail-feather finely mottled with
dusky. Under parts pale pinkish cinnamon; the entire
throat obscured with a faint dusky suffusion. Crissum
darker than abdomen and unmarked.
Wing, 67 mm. ; tail feathers, 53 mm. ; bill from nostril, 12
mm.; tarsus, 19 mm.; middle toe, 13 mm.
(No. 2530 — Immiture, author's collection. Guadalupe
Island, February 19, 1886.)
First Plumage. — Above lighter than the immature speci-
men and grayer than the adult plumage. Below, including
throat, pale sulphurous white, becoming pinkish on sides,
and crissum, which is unmarked.
Wing, 57 mm.; tail feather, 34 mm.; bill from nostril, 8.5
mm.; tarsus, 20.5 mm.; middle toe, 14 mm.
(No. 2425 — Nestling, author's collection. Guadalupe
Island, January 23, 1886. )
By the table of measurements it will be seen that the bills
of specimens (collected eleven years after the species was
discovered) average about 15.5 mm.; while those taken in
1875 I find to average) fully a millimeter less. A decade
hence it will be interesting to know whether this increasing
development has still continued.
312
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
-Collector's No.
Sex and
age.
Date, 1886.
Wing.
Tail
feathers .
Tail.
Bill from
nostril.
Tarsus.
Middle
toe.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2395
$
ad.
January 6.
65
48
52
15
21
14
2397
S
ad.
January 6.
66.5
49
54
15.5
21
13
2398
6
ad.
January 6.
67
48.5
56
17
21
14
2422
5
ad
January 23
69
52
—
16
20
13
2423
6
ad.
January 23.
68
49
54
16
22.5
14
2443
$
ad.
January 29.
68
51
57
15
22
14
2444
S
ad
January 29,
08
52
57
16
22
14
2445
^
ad.
January 29.
66
48
54
36
21
14.5
2534
f>
ad.
March 4.
71.5
53
58.5
17
22
14.5
2630
6
ad.
January 29
68
52
57
15
21
15
Average..
67.7
50.2
55.5
15.8
21.3
14
2396
?
ad.
January 6.
66
50
55
16.5
21
14
2446
9
ad.
January 29.
64
45
50
17
21.5
15
2449
9
ad.
January 29.
63
46
54
15
21
\.\
2450
9
ad.
January 29.
Average . .
64
47
53.5
14
15.6
20
20.8
13
64.2
47
53 1
13 7
No. 2534. — Ferruginous shade on breast and abdomen.
No. 2396. — Feathers worn off breast from setting. Length, 152 mm.; ex-
tent, 217 mm.
No. 2446. — Contained four very large ova.
29. Thryothorus brevicaudus.
Guadalupe Wren. — This rare local species has become
much restricted in distribution and perhaps m number since
Dr. Palmer obtained the only two known specimens in 1875.
I am informed that no collecting was done at that time
among the pines on the northern portion of the island, in
which place alone was I able to discover any trace of this
species; and as no collecting was done by Dr. Palmer among
the palms (an unlikely place for the birds to be found), I
infer that the two original specimens must have been found
toward the central portion of the island.
The birds were timid rather than shy, being alarmed by
the crushing of dry branches as I worked my way amidst
the dense windfalls of pines, where they were found, they
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND.
313
fled into the thickest parts. When all was quiet they would
cautiously approach until within a few feet of me, seeming-
ly prompted by curiosity. Fearing the complete extermi-
nation of a species so restricted in distribution, I refrained
from taking more specimens. All that I secured were taken
within an area of sixty by three hundred feet, nor were any
seen elsewhere. A frightened female uttered a few " twit"
" twits" of alarm, but with this exception they were utterly
silent.
A careful and protracted search during the greater part
of two days, with the aid of my Mexican companion, failed
to discover the whereabouts of a nest, the eggs of which
remain unknown.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collector's
Sex and
Date.
Wing.
Tail
1
Exposed
Tail.!
Bill from
Tarsus.
Middle toe.
No.
age.
1886.
feathers.
culmen.
nostril,
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2483
Sad.
Feb. 16
48
44
48
17. 5
12
17
12
2484
CO Sad
t ( (<
49
44
50
17
12
18
12
2486
Sad.
'• "
48
43
47.5 17
12
17
12.5
2487
Sad.
Av'g..
48
48.2
45
47
17
12
18
17.5
12
44
48 1
17.1
12
12.1
2482
9 ad.
Feb 16.
47
43
45
16
11
18
11
2485
^ad.
47
42
47
16
11
17.5
11.5
2488
^ad.
Av'g..
49
47.6
43
47
17
11.5
17.5
12
42.6
46.3
16.3
11.1
17.6
11.5
No. 2483.~Contained insects and two pine seeds. Length, 134mm. Extent,
165 mm.
No. 2484. — Sex not determined.
No. 2482.— Ovaries large. Eyes, dark brown. Contained insects.
No. 2485.— Ovaries smalL
No. 2488.— Ovaries large.
30. Sitta canadensis.
Ked-breasted Nuthatch.— Tolerably common among the
314 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
pine timber, and found nowhere else except in the large
cypress grove, where two or three were heard.
By the 10th of March several birds had begun their pre-
parations for nesting. Selecting a dead pine stump or
branch they worked industriously, striking little resounding
taps with their bills. Two unfinished holes were found,
one at a height of about forty feet in a slender dead pine ,
being just commenced, while the other, near the top of a pine
stump fifteen feet high, had been cut to a depth of four or five
inches, thus rendering necessary the removal of chips. This
process was effected by regular stages, the bird bringing a
mouthful of debris to the opening, where, entirely visible
with the exception of her tail, she clung to the edge of the
opening, head downward, until the chips were launched
into the air.
Specimens which were taken on Januarv 26 and February
16, do not vary in size from specimens of this species from
other localities.
31. Eegulus obscurus.
Dusky Kinglet. — Frequenting more numerously the large
cypress grove, they are nevertheless found in the smaller
grove, and also among the pines. In the former and latter
places they are positively known to breed, and there is but
little doubt that they also nest in the small grove. They
are much tamer than others of this genus found elsewhere,
still they do not seek a close acquaintance Avith a person of
hunting proclivities.
In December I found them in full song and as common
as in April, although strange as it may seem, it was not un-
til the latter month that any were noticed by Dr. Palmer.
Their song is indescribably sweet and musical, and of
wonderful power for so small a bird, commencing with a
few low, quick notes, as though the singer were merely try-
ing his voice, then bursting into a full animated warble, it
ends in a dissyllabic measure, accented on the first syllable,
and usually repeated from three to six times. One remark-
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND. 315
ably fine songster repeated the final dissyllable eight or ten
times. Only once did I hear the metallic click, so common
with the Oakland birds in winter, but even then it flowed
immediately into song.
As early as the middle of February nest-building was in
order, the birds selecting the topmost foliage of a cypress,
and sometimes the very outer extremity of a horizontal
branch.
As the result of many days' diligent search, three nests
came under my observation, and these were detected only
by watching the birds as they collected building material,
or by tracing to its source a peculiar, low song, which the
male sometimes sings when close to the nest.
These nests were all found over twenty feet high, and
only one could be seen from the ground, and fchat merel}-
during the intervals when the wind parted the branches.
They were placed in the midst of a thick bunch of foliage,
and but lightly secured to the twigs. Compact, though not
very smooth in structure, they were composed of soft
strips of bark intermingled with feathers, bits of moss,
fine grass and cocoons. Additional warmth is secured by
a quantity either of goat's hair or feathers, and, lastly, a
thin lining of goat's hair. Their external measurement is
about 70 mm. in height by 90 mm. in diameter, while the
internal depth is about 45 mm., and diameter from 35 mm.
to 45 mm.. The mouth of the opening is smaller than im-
mediately below.
A nest containing two fresh eggs (set No. 799, author's
oijlogical collection) was found in the top of a slender
cypress twenty-five feet high, March 24. It could not be
seen from the ground, but was located by the subdued song
of the male bird. As I ascended the tree and approached
the nest, the female flew off and joined her mate in a neigh-
boring tree. She made no demonstrations whatever, and
was not again seen, while her partner, undisturbed by my
intrusion continued to warble his richest song.
316
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
In color the eggs are white, with a dense wreath of pale
yellowish -brown spots encircling the larger end. In some
places, these spots appear to be laid over a pale lavender
washing, and in one specimen, these fine, almost indistinct
dots extend sparingly over the entire surface. They measure
in millimeters 14 x 11 and 15 x 11.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
Collect-
Sex and
Date,
Tail
Bill
Middle
wing
Tail.
from
Tarsus.
Length.
Extent
or's No.
age.
1886.
feathers.
nostril
toe.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
mm.
2371
S ad.
Jan. 2
56
44
47
7
19.5
10.5
114
169
2390
S ad.
$ ad.
Jan. 6
Jan. 6
53
53
40
40
—
6.5
6
18
20
10
10
2391
111
ICA
2392
$ ad.
Jan. 6
55
43
6.5
19
10
2399
S ad.
Jan. 6
54.5
41.5
6
20.5
10
2412
$ ad.
Jan. 23
54.5
43
6
19.5
10.5
2413
S ad.
Jan. 23
55
44
7
20
10.5 1
2414
S ad.
Jan. 23
56.5
46
49
7.5
19.5
10.5
2441
S ad.
Jan. 29
56
44
7.5
20
10
2455
S ad.
Feb. 2
Av'g..
55
43
—
6.5
19.5
11
54.8
42.8
—
6.6
19,5
10.3 i
2373
? ad.
Jan. 2
51
38.5
42 5
6
19
10
2439
? ad.
Jan. 29
51
40
41
6.5
19
10 1
2456
? ad.
Feb. 2
Av'g..
52
40.5
44.5
6
195
10 '
j
51.3
39.6
~
6.1
19.1
:o 1
No. 2371.— Iris dark brown.
No. 2456. — Ovaries small.
The length of bill from nostril of the males taken by Dr.
Palmer, all measure 6.3 mm., and the single female has the
bill but 5.5 mm., showing a slight increase in length during
the past decade. As this measurement can be so accurately
taken, I believe the difference is an actual one.
32. Turdus aonalaschkse.
DwAEF Heemit Thrush. — The strange shyness of the
straggling avifauna of Guadalupe Island was well exempli-
ORNITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND.
317
fiecl in the first specimen of this species which I met
with. On the 24th of December, I thought I heard the
note of a Dwarf Thrush, a sound quite familiar to me
during the winter season at Oakland, but could not get
a sight at the author of it. The bird was heard for several
consecutive mornings in the cypress grove adjoining my
camp, but was not seen until the 2d of January. He then
succeeded in eluding me and leading me a daily chase until
the 7th of January, when he was accommodating enough to
call at camp in the evening, announcing his arrival by call-
ing out quickly ''chut," ''chut." As the sound apparently
proceeded from beneath a fallen cypress I worked my way
cautiously in that direction, keeping tree trunks between
myself and the place. The ground being smoother than
where I had previously found him, I was not obliged to
look to every footstep, and finally arriving within range, I
caught sight of him on the ground. The report of the gun
was tremendous in the still evening air, and the result final.
I soon had the long-sought prize in hand, beautiful, as
freshly killed specimens of Tiirdi always are. Two other
specimens were afterwards taken, one in the large palm
grove, the other among the cypress. Neither, however,
was so diificult to approach as the first.
LIST OF SPECIMENS COLLECTED.
CoUector's Number.
Sex and age.
Date, 1883.
Remarks.
2401
2436
2-583
$, ad.
— ad.
S ad.
January 7.
January 28.
March 2d.
Iris dark brown
33. Merula migratoria propinqua.
Western Robin. — First seen in December. In January
three birds were found and taken on the border of the small
cypress grove.
22— Bull. Cal. Acad. Sci. U. 6.
Issued January 5, 1887.
318
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Collector's Number.
Sex.
Date, 1886.
Remarks.
2382
2386
?
9
January 4.
January 4.
January 8.
Fat.
Head only saved.
34. Hesperocichla naevia.
Varied Thrush. — One bird only was seen on the island
among the pine timber.
DATA OF SPECIMEN.
Collector's Number.
Sex and age.
Date.
2533
? ad.
March 4, 1886.
Eemarks — Gizzard contained larvae, beetles and one pine seed.
35. Sialia arctica.
Mountain Bluebird. — Three birds of this, species were
seen on several occasions on the edge of the small cypress
grove; a single one being noticed for the last time on the
15th of February.
DATA OF SPECIMEN COLLECTED.
Collector's Number.
Sex and age.
Date.
2369
6 ad.
December 29, 1885,
Kemarks— Iris dark brown. Gizzard contained caterpillars and an elytron
of a beetle.
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
ERRATA.
ADDITIONS TO THE OENITHOLOGY OF GUADALUPE ISLAND.
Page 280, in table. For 385 mm. read 384 mm,
283.
169U read 1691?
1699? .
2408? .
2504?.
2581?;*
2409?.
" 1699 5
" 2408 5
" 2504 5
" 2581 5
" 2409 5
288, second line. For form read forms.
289, second table. For Scott read Scott Mt.
" Mar. 20, 1883, read Mar. 20, 1880.
290, eleventh line. For Guadeloupe read Guadalupe.
291, fourteenth line. For Guadaloupe read Guadalupe.
299, thirteenth line. For by omitting, substitute it having omitted.
299, eighth line. For Cone's read Cones'.
303, second table. For ? ad. read ad.