Page:Condor8(2).djvu/26

 Mar., I9O6 [ FIELD AND STUDY 57 A Novel Find.--In November, i9o5, a California condor's egg was found in Sespe Valley, back of Nordhoff, California. The egg was uninjured, but the coutents were dried up. The nest- cave was in a huge ledge of rocks facing towards the south, the egg was found accidentally by a party of campers climbing about the rocks, and is one of the greatest pieces of luck I ever heard of; for who has found even so common an egg as that of the turkey vulture in th middle of November on an exposed ledge ?--WILLIAM GALLAHER, Santa l?arbara, Cal. Pacific Kittiwake in Southern California.--On January 9, I9O6, a specimen of the Pacific Kittiwake (Rissa lridactyla polh'caris) was picked up dead at Playa del ley, one of the new beach resorts between Redondo and Santa Monica. The bird was forwarded to me by a friend, and proved to be a female in first winter plumage (No. 7487 Coil. J. G). It was very lean, and somewhat emaciated, tho no direct cause of death could be determined. I think this is the first recorded instance for Los Angeles County,--J. GRINNELL, Pasadena, Cal. Cannibalism in Owls.--On March 2, 9o5, Dr. Wm. Bebb of this city, kindly gave me a female specimen of Syrnium occidenlale (spotted owl) which was killed on the Old Wilson Peak trail near here. Upon dissection, the stomach was found to contain remains of a pygmy owl (Glaucidium znoma), a portion of the skull enabling me to positively identify it. The spotted owl was taken about 6 P.m., and judging from the freshuess of the stomach contents, the pygmy owl could not have been captured any great length of time. The case of "owl eat owl" is not a new one, but it would be of interest to determine which species is the greatest offender.--C. H. RCH- ARDSON, JR., Pasadena, Cal. New Bird for Amador County.--On August 28, 9o5,' while driving in the western end of the County, near Carbondale, I saw a roadrunner (Geococcy. ca/iforltianus). My brother and I collected in Amador County during four years without ever seeing the roadrunner, and as far as I know this is the first record of its occurrence in that region.--GEo. L. KAEmNG, 2Vevada. A Small ]gg.--An average-sized hummingbird egg is a small and delicate thing. After examining several hundred sets and records of many more I concluded that an adnormal hum- mer's egg was something unheard of. However, on June x of last year, while strolling along the bottom of a heavily wooded can- yon near Escondido, a female hummer was flushed from the low limbs of a small live oak. Closer investigation by my brother proved that her nest was placed on a small twig about five feet from the ground. "One fresh egg,"was the first report; then, "O! Gee!Lookat the runt!" And sure enough there was the smallest egg I had ever seen just partially visible among the yellow down aud feathers which lined the nest. The bird was secured and proved to be a very small Costa (Calyple costry), measuring about 3.4 inches in length. After much speculation as to the possibility of blowing so small an egg I succeeded in making a fine specimen of it. It measured .29 x .2I inches and contained no yolk. The other egg was slightly incubated and measured .5o x .33 inches. May I ask, has anyone else so small an egg? If so I would like to hear of it.--NELsON CAReENTER, Stanford University, Cal. Pacific ]ider in Washington.--The Pacific eider (Somateria z,-nigra) has been reported from the vicinity of Tacoma off and on this winter since early December. Only one has been shot, this being reported to me as "looking like a hen nmllard, only much larger with a heavier bill"; evidently a female. I went down to the Nisqually flats, 8 miles from Tacoma, on Ja.nuary 6, and had the good fortune to see a flock of seven eiders, besides a pair of females. The latter I approached within 80 yards as they were feeding in a slough, but they were very wild, and I failed to secure any.--J. H. BOWLES, Tacoma, 1fash. A Correction.--Thru an inadequate knowledge of the two species, and altogether too hasty identification on my part, Oreospiza chlorura was noted as timophi/a ruficeps in my "List of Summer Birds of the Piute Mountains, California", THE CONDOR, Vol. VI. No. 5, page 36. Acknowledging my mistare, I wish here to offer a correction for the same.--C. H. RICHARDSON, JR., Pasadena, Cal.