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Mar., 1908
NOTES FROM SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND
85

Smugglers' Cove, October 15, I was surprised to see a Harris Sparrow appear among them. Not having my gun I waited until the sparrow had finished a bath and returned to the feeding grounds under the holly bushes nearby. I then secured my "aux" from my father and awaited the sparrow's return for another drink; this it did in about half an hour. This specimen differs slightly from two specimens (of the same month) in my collection, from Lawrence, Kansas.

Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli. Intermediate Sparrow. Very common winter visitant.

Zonotrichia coronata. Golden-crowned Sparrow. Common winter visitant.

Junco hyemalis thurberi. Sierra Junco. One specimen, secured at White Rock Spring on the northeast coast, October 13, is probably thurberi.

Amphispiza belli. Bell Sparrow. Common resident on the brushy portions of the northwest half of the Island.

Melospiza clementæ. San Clemente Song Sparrow. Abundant resident. Common in the yards at Howland's, nesting in the scrub cacti and vines within a few yards of the hacienda. March 31, three nests were found in the corral near the stables; one contained four young one week old, the others having incomplete sets. These nests were built a few inches from the ground in the center of the cacti beds, which, being covered with a thick growth of vines, completely hid the nests. A large series of skins preserved.

Passerella iliaca insularis. Kadiak Fox Sparrow. Three specimens secured in the stable yards, Howland's, January 23 and February 7. October 5, February 8, and April 1 I secured other specimens near Mosquito Harbor.

Pipilo clementæ. San Clemente Towhee. None were seen within eight miles of the northwest coast, but they were very common near Mosquito Harbor. The "catbird" call of P. m. megalonyx of the mainland, said to be "unknown to this bird", I often heard; in fact it was the common note heard at this season. P. clementæ is a shy and silent bird during breeding season, which probably accounts for the statements of observers during that period, limiting his vocal attainments to the "towhee" call. During October the towhees were observed shaking the overripe cherries from the twigs of the low hanging branches, then flying to the ground and securing the well-earned delicacies. This curious operation I often watched them perform.

Piranga ludoviciana. Western Tanager. Several seen and two specimens secured near Mosquito Harbor.

Piranga rubra cooperi. Cooper Tanager. A ♀ specimen was secured by my father, October 11, in the holly brush in a narrow valley on the high mesa near Mosquito Harbor. Several Western Tanagers were observed here.

Lanius mearnsi. San Clemente Shrike. Fairly well distributed over the Whole Island but extremely shy. March 7 I secured a ♀ with nest and five eggs, incubation two-thirds. This nest is typical of the species; composed of dry twigs and weed stems, thickly lined with rootlets and wool and well concealed in the thick branches of a holly bush in a ravine near the northwest coast. Another nest was found March 8 near the coast midway of the Island, containing one downy young and two infertile eggs. Near Mosquito Harbor, March 19, I secured a ♀ and five fresh eggs. The males were extremely shy, giving the alarm from their lookout perches and leaving the vicinity of the nests immediately upon sighting the intruder. The three nests measure in inches as follows: