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BANCROFT 
 LIBRARY 
 
 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.