Page:Condor12(1).djvu/45

Jan., 1910 FROM FIELD AND STUDY 45 ulate chin. It was perhaps ten years since my last sight of birds of their kind--at Ipswich, Massachusetts---and naturally I observed them with much interest. They neither bobbed nor teetered, bnt had a plover-like trick of half squatting, or crouching, when startled. In running, and now and then when standing still, they assumed a peculiarly erect attitude, which gave them the appearance of being, for sandpipers. uncommonly 1ong-neckt. On September 20, three birds were present, and ?n the 21st and 23rd a single bird was seen. In Mr. Grinnell's Check-List of California Birds, 1902, the status of the Pectoral Sandpiper is given as "rare migrant; known only from the record of J. G. Cooper of its occurrence at San Francisco Bay"; and Messrs. Dawson and Bowles, in their Birds of Washington, mark it as "casual during migrations. "--BRADFORD TORRI?. An Albino Magpie.--The accompanying half-tone is from a photo of a remarkably fine mounted specimen of an albino Magpie (Pica pica budsonia). This bird was one of two albino birds, in a brood the balance of which was normal in every respect. The other albino bird was captured and kept in captivity by Mr. Brown of Littleton for some time. It was very wild even after being in captivity for some time, and repeated attempts to se- cure a satisfactory picture of the live bird failed. Fig. 16. ALBINO iMAGPII?. O.NI? O1 TV?'O IN AN OTHI?RWISE NORMAL BROOD. IN COLORADO In color both birds were pure white save for a slight creamy tint which may have been due to soiled plumage. The bird photographed was mounted by Jonas Brothers, Taxidermists, of Denver.--R. B. ROCKWELL. Notes from Sacaton, Arizona.--October 25, 1909, I nofist a flock of about 75 small birds flying above a field of grass and alfalfa. At first glance I thought they were House Finches in a fall flock, I?t the distance was several hundred feet and their actions were not orthodox for the finches or linnets. The flock remained in one spot too long, and other indefinite indications made me question their identity. While watching them a Cooper Hawk gave chase and secured one of the birds in mid-air. I secured a gun and went back to the field for a specimen. They allowed me to approach very near before taking flight, as close as twenty feet in some cases. XVhile on the ground they were very hard to distinguish, as the grass clumps were about dry and the birds remained motionless when I got near them. One was at last seen distinctly, and a shot brought down that one and another near by but unseen. A peculiarity which imprest me was the fact that the whole flock did not rise at once, but as I approacht close enough a few would fly at a time. As they would wheel in the air the white of the tail showed in a striking manner. Three were obtained and identified as Chestnut-collared Longspurs (Calcarius ornatus) in winter dress.