cles in The Condor, and who for a decade or more was engaged in making exten- sive collections of the eggs of Utah birds, tells me that he has not seen a Franklin gull in Utah. Another well informed student of the bird life of this state, Prof. Marcus E. Jones, is quoted by Davie, "Nests and Eggs of North American Birds," on the nesting habits of the California gull, but no reference to him appears in connection with the Franklin gull. Ridgway in "Notes on the Bird Fauna of the Salt Lake Valley," and in "Ornithology of the Fortieth Parallel;" Merriam, "Sixth
Annual Report, U.S. Geol. Survey"; Henshaw--quoting Ridgway--in "Anno-
tated List of Utah Birds;" and Cooke in, "Birds of Colorado," all name the Utah gull Larus californicus.
It would be of interest to know what data led Prof. Bailey to call this bird, Larus franklini.
Provo City, Utah.
The Birds of the John DaysRegion, Oregon BY LOYE HOLMES MILLER HE observations" here recorded were made during May and June of I899 and with the collections now in the Biology Department of the University, comprise the work done on the ornithology of the John Day region by the first University of California expedition into that part of the country. A good general account of the expedition was given before the Science Asso- ciation of the University by the geologist in charge, Dr. John C. Merriam What need be added to this account will be those points regarding the topo- graphy that will bear directly upon the bird life. The locality known as the Cove is that part ot the John Day basin about fifteen miles northwest of Dayville, and is some one hundred miles due southeast of The Dalles. Bridge Creek is a tributary entering the John Day, about sixty-five miles from its junction with the Columbia. The expedition was in the field from May 25 to July io. A distance of some three hundred miles was covered in the round trip and a range of elevation from the low, hot country on the Columbia to the pine belt in the Blue Mts. Three permanent camps were made: first at the Bridge Creek beds, June i to i2; second, atthe Cove, Blue Basin, June pto 28; third, at Lower Basin in the Cove, June 29 to July 2. Thus there were twenty-five days in which collecting could be done. Half of this time was devoted to biology, making not more than thirteen days for making collections. The collection nmnbers fifty-four birds and ten mammals with a few reptiles and batrachians. In his general discussion Dr. Merriam speaks of the desert character of the country and the extreme paucity of living species. The region is indeed most disappointing to the collector in search of existing forms, or to one on mere pleas- ure bent, yet I think there is not one in the party but considers this chapter in his experience one of the most enjoyable and profitable. The Bridge Creek Camp was made at Allen's ranch, ten miles up Bear Creek from its junction with the John Day and twelve miles from Mitchell. The valley a Published by permission of Professor W. l. Ritter, head of Department of Biology. b "An expedition to the John Day Region, Oregon," J. C. Merriam Proc. Sci. Assoc. Univ. of Calif., Vol. I, No. 1.
