Page:Condor18(5).djvu/25

 Sept., 1916

SOME BIRD NOTES PROM HUMBOLDT BAY The Coast Jay (Cyanocitta s. carbonaces) of the Humboldt Bay region appears to be, as a rule, somewhat lighter colored than Specimens from Marin County. While the Eureka bird inclines mostly toward carbonaces, individ- uals vary considerably, and some of the lighter ones, taken in the first week in June, differ from June birds taken near the mouth of the lussian River, Sonoma County, only in that they are rather darker on the head and back, while the lighter blues with a certain greenish tinge are very close to the tints of the same feathers in specimens of unquestionable frontalis, to which form the lussian River birds are so closely allied. As a whole, however, the I-Iumboldt Bay bird is very similar to that of the coast country of southern Monterey County, such as vicinity of Little Sur River, Lucia, Partington Point, etc., all the specimens from these localities, that are in our collection at least (toll. of J. and J. W. Mailliard), being somewhat lighter than those taken in Marin County, athough all classified with carbonaces. The California Jay (Aphelocoma c. calfornica) it seems has never been recorded from the vicinity of Humboldt Bay, although it has been taken a t/oopa Valley to the northeast of Eureka and over a range or so of moun- tains (W. K. Fisher, CODOR, VI, 1904, p. 51). This species is reported by C. I. Clay as breeding at Alton, 21 miles south of Eureka, at an elevation of only a few feet above the sea, and except for being a little more open, in similar type of country to that actually bordering Humboldt Bay. In the mouted collec- tion of birds belonging to Dr. B. M. Marshall, of Eureka, are ome specimens of the California Jay labelled Eureka, put up by Mr. F. J. Smith, of that place, and aken by either one or the other of these two Cooper Club members. While none of this species was noted by the writer in the actual vicinity of Humboldt Bay, a couple were seen and one taken back of Areaim at an alti- tude of about 1800 feet, where poison oak and the buckeye were in evidence. The Northwestern Red-winged Blackbird (Agelagus ply. caurinus) seems to have been recorded from California in only two instances, up to the time that Grinnell's Dstrbutional List was published, yet this is appa.rently the form breeding in the vicinity of Humboldt Bay. But few of these birds were ob- served, and breeding colonies were scarce. Around San Prancisco Bay, and in the interior, redwings in the breeding season may be seen in almost any favorable locality, such as marshes and swamps, along sloughs where rules grow, and even along the roads among grain fields. But in the Humboldt Bay region many seemingly most suitable spots were reconnoitred without suc- cess, and where finally found nesting it was in colonies containing but few individuals. Some twenty specimens were taken, and, while the plumage at this late date (June 1) was not in a very satisfactory condit'ion for determina- tion of sub-species, there seems to be no doubt as to this form being caurinus. Bryant's Marsh Sparrow (Passerculus s. bryanti) is common on the marshes around Humboldt Bay, its breeding habitat being supposedly con- fined to tidal marshes. Yet a male of this form was taken on May 28 on Knee- land prairie on top of a range at an elevation of about 2800 feet and 18 miles from salt water. It appeared to be nesting, but neither nest nor mate was secured. This individual is indistinguishable from specimens taken at same date on salt marsh near Eureka except that the bill is more 8lender than any other obtained. The Mendocino Song Sparrow (MeloslMza m. cleonensis) is given in Grin- nell's Distributional Lst as a resident of fresh water marshes near the sea, but