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 192 THE CONDOR Vol. XX week of May or first part of June. Since this species is known to construct a new nest, if deprived of its first eggs, the present nest is doubtless a case of that kind. My notes show that Swainson Hawks were seen at this place on May 13, one of them soaring high above the river with nesting material in its talons.--A. D. Du Bois, Dutton, Mort. tana, August 12, 1918. Notes from Southern California.--Franklin Gull (Larus ranklini). A fourth rec- ord of this bird comes from the same locality as the three specimens taken by Mr. J. E. Law (ConDoR, xvII, 1915, p. 96). This gull was taken by myself on October 29, 1917, from a great flock of Bonaparte, Western, California, Ring-bill and Herring gulls, feeding ou the sewage where it discharges into the ocean at Hyperion, Los Angeles County. In plumage it is the same as the birds taken by Mr. Law, an immature, probably of the year. European Widgeon (Mareca penelope). On December 12, 1917, a clerk in one of [he large public markets of Los Angeles called my attention to a pair of fine "Red-heads" exposed for sale along with numerous other ducks of various species on his counter. A quick sale followed, the birds proving to be of the above species. Both were in perfect adult plumage, marred only by absence of under tail-coverts, which had been stripped off in removing the entrails. The proprietor stated they had been shipped to him from Brawley, Imperial County. Red Phalarope (Phalaropus iulicarius). The passing of famed Nigger'Slough, as a result of drainage work begun in 1916, removes the last considerable area of breeding- ground for fresh-water birds in southern California. The reduction of formerly extens- ive deep-water areas to wide stretches of oozy mud; partly covered by a thin sheet of water, appears to have coincided with an unusual visitation of Red Phalaropes to this locality. This species was first noted on the beach southwest of Los Angeles, May 23, 191, where several birds were taken and quite a number seen, at very close range, feed- ing about the cast-up kelp. On the 27th, several were noted at Nigger Slough, in com- pany with thousands of the Northern Phalarope. Frequent inspection of the slough dur- ing the following week showed considerable numbers of the Red species, in every stage of plumage from the gray winter to full breeding garb, but a rapid decrease of the North ern. Both were practically gone on June 8. Birds taken on the beach were greatly emaciated, while those taken at the slough were generally in good flesh, some of them fat, and all approaching breeding condition.-- L. E. WYMAn, Museum o! History, Science and Art, Los Angeles, California, June 15, 1918. When the Thrushes Cease from Singing.--In the California springtime we hear the sweet-toned ringing of the thrushes' song, that of the Russet-backed Thrush (Hylo- cichla ustulata ustulata) for the most part, and of other varieties as well, in some re- stricted parts. We instinctively note the first of these seasonal outbursts of joy, but how many of us take note of when they cease? At first adding to our enjoyment of blossoming nature we soon become accus- tomed to the amorous outpourings of our avian friends and calmly take them for granted as a pleasing part of the .fresh spring atmosphere, so that when they cease it takes us some time to awaken to the fact. Many times have I resolved to keep careful watch for the moment when these ringing notes would no longer be heard, and yet the season went by with this unnoticed. This summer, however, I have had exceptional opportunity to take note of what happened as regards two species of thrushes. Going to the Bohemian Grove, on the Rus- sian River about ten miles above its mouth, in Sonoma County, California, upon{ July 6 (1918), I found that in the darker and less disturbed part of the grove--where my own camp is situated--the Monterey Hermit Thrush (Hylocichla guttara slevini) was quite abunda.nt, frequenting the lowest hillsides and occasionally appearing on the floor of the canyon, and in full song. During the many previous years of my camping there, but an occasional note had been heard, while no individual had been actually identified. This difference in habits was probably due to the extreme dryness of the nearly rainless winter and spring, with water very scarce on the higher levels around the grove. The attendance in Bohemia was very light this year on account of so many mem- bers of the club being either directly or indirectly connected with war serviee and human neighbors seldom appeared; so that passing most of the time quietly in my camp 'offered unusual opportunity to note the .bird-life round about. There were certainly more birds of various sorts in the grove thn ever noted before,