Page:Condor15(4).djvu/26

 158 FROM FIELD AND STUDY Vol. XV discrepancy in the numbers of water- and shore-birds, I believe California may, in a favorable season, safely cross friendly foils with that most favored and de- servedly famous home of the bird horizon, Oberlin. FROM FIELD _,%ND STUDY The Status of the Gambel Quail in 0olorado.--In view of the known facts regarding the status of the Gambel. Quail in Colorado, I hesitate to believe that it was Mr. L. J. Hersey's intention to convey the impression that the specimens taken in the Uncompahgre valley extended the natural range of these birds 100 to 120 miles north of that given by Cooke and Sclater (see CONOR xv, 1913, p. 93). Those unfamiliar with the folloxving facts, however, might be misled info that belief. Notwithstanding the extensive work that has been done. on he birds of Colorado, the quail of the western slope have remained unidentified since their introduction there, more than twenty-five years ago, the broad term "California quail" having been accepted without question. Being assured of the mistake in their identity at the time the specimens referred to by Mr. Hersey were taken I began an investigatioh with a view of determining the facts concerning their presence. . About 1885 or 1886 twenty-five interested gentlemen secm-ed nearly one thousand "California quail," which they liberated "at or near Montrose," Montrose County (according to the official records of Montrose County), and not at Grand Junction, Mesa County, as given by all the literature on the subject. The names of the gentlemen were secured from the records and much correspondence followed, but it failed to produce the slightest evidence as to the locality from which the birds had been obtained, until I was finally referred to Mr. J. D. Heard, of Los Angeles. Mr. Heard's reply to inquiries is as follows: "I am receipt of your valued favor of March 6th and in answer beg leave to say that if my memory serves me right the' quail shipped to Colorado twenty-five years ago were trapped at or near Fresno, California." I am not acquainted with Mr. Heard's connection with the shipment, but it is evident that if he is not mistaken cali[ornica occurs, or has occurred, .in this state. Two gentlemen directly interested, old residents of the region, agree that the introduction was highly successful from the first, yet efforts have failed to disclose the slightest trace of Lophortyx cah[ornica in ei'ther Montrose, Mesa or Delta counties. There would therefore seem no reason for believing they were there, other than through the long acceptance of a mere term. Gambel Quail are extremely abundant. and since the birds recorded by Mr. Hersey were taken within ten miles of the original point of introduction, it is not unnatural' to suppose that they originated from that source. Certainly, there is no evidence whatever of their presence being due to 'natural causes. Mr. Hersey's reference to Sclater's proof concerning the records of gainbell taken south of Old Fort Lewis is very interesting; and altogether, until.further evidence is at hand, it seems apparent ihat Lophortyx gainbell has no rightful place in the list of native Colorado birds.--J. D. FmGzNS. laslajio Wandsrsrs.--On the night of December 8, 19!2, while on a vessel about 700 miles!; sOuthwesterly froTn San Francisco, a white-rumped petrel came aboard and was secured by the writer. It measures as follows: wing, 6.15; tail, 3.33; bill, .62. These measurements would seem to indicate that this specimen is the Leach Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa. ) On April 8, 1913, xvhile on shipboard about 750 miles southwesterly from San Francisco. two Laysan Albatrosses (Diomedea inmutabilis) were noted. They were first seen about 11 A. . and they were still folloxving the ship at dark, at which time we were about 600 miles out from the California coast. At daylight the next morning they had disappeared, and were not further seen.--G. Soott Oriols (Icterus parisorum) at Santa Barbara.--A young male of this species sang so loudly from a neighboring sycamore tree on the morning of May 7 that he roused me from slumber, although I especially provide against. such nonsense by sleeping with a pillow plastered over my ear. The bird challenged several times and then departed down Mission Creek; whither I followed after a hasty toilet, to overtake him an hour later. Mr. George L. Hamlin prepared the'skin, and he told me that he had been in pursuit of this same bird in the Oak Park section for a week.Wiz,z,xAxt LEoN DAwSoN.