Page:Condor13(1).djvu/35

 Jan., 1911 FROM I*IELD AND STUDY 35 The Western Winter Wren (,Mannus tdemalispacificus) at Santa'Barbara.--On Novem- ber 14, 1910, Mr. Watson Snyder of Newark, N.J., told me he saw one of these wrens in a small canyon on the outskirts of town. We visited the locality on the day following, but were unsuc- cessful in loca(ing our bird. On November 26, Mr. Snyder reported anothe in a canyon situated a number of miles front where he saw the first. I visited this place on the day following and was successful in seeing three, of which I secured one for my collection.--J. H. BOWLES. Notes from Ventura County, California.--On May 12, 1910, Sidney Peyton found a et of eggs of Anthony Green Heron (Butorides virescens anthonyi) in an ohl crow's nest in a swamp east of the Sespe River. It consisted of six considerably incubated eggs. On October 23, 1910, I foumt a nest of the Green-backed Gohlfinch (tslragalinus ps. hespero- philus) in a walnut tree near my home at Sespe. It contained four nearly grown young. They left thc nest on October 29. Harold Pyle fouml a nest on October 26 which contained four young birds. They left the nest November 8.--LAWRENCE PEvToN. A Stray White Pelican.--I recently inspected the skin of a White I'elicn (Pelecanus erylroryncos) titat was captured on November '27 in the vicinity of Lankershim, Los Angeles County, California. It had been wounded by a rifle ball, but when found was still alive anti very pugnacious, though the appearance of the surrounding ground iudicated that it had had an all night fight with the coyotes. It died soon after.--J. ]UGENE LAW. Notes from Santa Barbara.--The Western [Grasshopper Sparrow (,4mmodramus saran- narum bimaculalus) is a common smumer resident in the vicinity of Santa Barbara, California. I secured a set of five eggs last stunmet aud found several nests with young. Wilson Phalaropes (Slegranopus tricolor) stayed around here a good deal this fall. I saw a pair on July 22, three together on August ,3, and a pair on September 8; one of the latter was shot. They all stayed around for some time; but these three dates must certainly have been for different birds. I first saw the Pectoral Samlpiper (Pisobia maculala) this fall on September 8, anti collected one on September 9.--J. H. BOWLES. Notes from Sacaton, Arizona.--The fall of 1910 was prolific in the occurrence of unusual bird visitors, anti I send the following notes concerning them. September 3, a Rocky Mountain Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis nelsoni) fnade his appearance anti was later joined by several more: They were here till the first week in December, when I saw the last one. September 5, I secured a umle Ant-eating Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus formici- vorus), being the second one seen in three years. When first seen, he was at work on a .mes- quite wood-pile in the back-yard. October 5, a Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) was seen on a cement irrigating ditch, which was probably rather poor picking. Later in the day I saw hint or another, and (luring the month following I saw several. One day I noticed one fly several times from a tree trnnk, warbler-like, and snap upworms hanging at the emls of webs. The most incongruous combination was a Clarke Nutcracker (,Mucifraga columbiana) perched on a Deglet Noor date tree the morning of October 17. He was quite tame anti thougit an instinct demanded his acquisition as an arian record for this locality I refrained anti he departed in peace about noon. His place however was taken that afternoon by a Long-crested Jay (Uyanocilla slelleri diademata) which I saw in some cotton-wood trees along a field of Egyptian cotton. Several of these jays were seen the next day anti were around till November 22 when the last was seen. The most seen at one time were seven in a flock. They were strangely silent for these jays, perhaps feeling like strangers in a strange land. October 23, a Townsend Solitaire (Myadesles townsendi) was seen in the date grove. November 21, while driving across the desert, I found a Whistling Swan (01or columbianus) with a crippled wing. He could half fly and half run and it took quite a chase to run hint down. It was a long ways from water so I gave him a drink front my canteen which he seemed glad to get, and putting hint in the wagon took him home. Here I placed him in a big irrigating ditch with grassy banks and gave him corn, wheat and bread. I hoped his wing would heal but he grew weaker and (lied the fourth day.--M. FRENCH (}ILMAN.