Page:Condor18(4).djvu/28

 THE CONDOR Vol. XVIII Decoys Used b Market Hunters in Slaughtering Band-tailed Pigeons.--On a recent visit to Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, I was informed how easily the Band- tailed Pigeon had been slaughtered by the simple device formerly used to decoy the Passenger Pigeon. The method was to fasten a dead or half-dead pigeon on a stick or wire in the top of one of the oak trees where the birds commonly congregated, the decoy being placed quite high where it would easily be seen. This decoy would lead flock after flock to the slaughter, the market hunter being able to kill all he wanted without moving from the tree. I think that before there is once more an open season on the Band-tailed Pigeon it would be wise to have legislation enacted prohibiting the use of decoys, and thus in a measure guard against a repetition o this former disgraceful method of slaughter.--W. LEE CHXMBERS, Eagle Rock, California. Nesting of the Western Robin in San Francisco County.--On May 31, 1915, I saw a male Western Robin (Plansticus m. roinquus) near the western portal of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. The bird had something in its beak which I took to be food for nest- lings. On June 5 of the same year I saw another bird of this species near Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park. These observations led me to su'pect that the Western Robin was nesting on the seaward side of the San Francisco peninsula. Accordingly in April and early May of the present year I made a somewhat thorough investigation of the St. Francis Wood region and of the territory around Strawberry Hill. These efforts were, however, without result. On May 17, of the present year I was looking around the gardens on Sutro Heights when a male robin alighted within a few feet of where I was standing. A few minutes later a female appeared with food in her bill. I remained quiet until she flew to her nest in a Monterey cypress. As she alighted on the nest four or five young birds raised their heads and clamored for the food. The same day I saw another robin at the Chain of Lakes in Golden Gate Park. I believe this is the first time the Western Robin has been found nesting in the bay regi6n. The nearest station heretofore reported is, I believe, San Geronimo, Marin County, reported by J. and J. W. Mailliard. While the Western Robin has always seemed to be much more a bird of the wilds than its eastern cousin, may it not be that it is slowly changing its habits and seeking closer relationship with man?--W. A. SqUIR.S, an Francisco, California. The Western Robin Nesting in Golden Gate Park, San Franclsco.n ApI 16, 1916, while walking around the Chain of Lakes, in the western part of Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, my attention was attracted by a pair of Western Robins (Planesticus migratorius propinquus) which were carrying building material to a Monterey cypress about thirty feet from a small arm of North Lake. No attempt was made to find the nest at this time, for fear of driving the birds away. On April 20 the nest was located on a limb eight feet from the ground and almost overhanging one of the main boule- vards. Dried grass was mostly used in the construction, with a little string and the usual mud plastering around the rim. The eggs had not been deposited at this time. On May 2 I again visited the nest, in company with Mr. H. C. Bryant, who took several photographs of it. It now contained three eggs well along in incubation. Four more uncompleted nests were found in the near vicinity. Remnants of a last year's nest were shown us by Mr. Jesse Klapp, the park game warden, who also informed us that to his knowledge robins have nested in the park for the last three years. On May 12 I found that the nest under observation had been robbed. On May 15, a nest containing young, was found in a growth of Australian Tea Bush, bordering a bridle path. When visited again, with Mr. Klapp, on May 17, the young were found dead. We were unable to determine whether this had been caused by cold weath- er, or by the depredations of some animal. Later five other nests were located, of whioh two contained young, two were inaccessible, and the other was deserted. There appears to be no other record of the nesting of the Western Robin near the coast south of San Francisco Bay. Why the pines and cypresses of Monterey County are not likewise attractive is difficult to understand. Doubtless food supply is the im- portant limiting factor which comes into play in this case. Whether the increase of