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May, 1911 PROM PIELD AND STUDY The Bohemian 'Waxwing in Placer County, California.--The California Academy of Sciences recently received a female Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla Karrula) from Dutch Flat, Placer County, California. It was sent by Mr. E. I?. Cames, Superintendent of the State In- sectary, who stated that it was shot on February 26, 1911. He writes under date of March 3: "Large numbers of this species of bird have appeared in the apple orchards around the town just named and are feeding on the decaying fruit, which has been left on the ground or is still hang- ingon the tree."--E. W. The Egret in Southern California.--While crossing the salt marsh north of Alamitos Bay, Los Angeles County, California, 9:30 a.m., t?ebruary 26, 1911, en route to Newport Beach, saw two Egrets (Herodias eKrella) standing in a tide pool about seventy-five yards from the Pacific Electric R. R. tracks. The 'passing of the car did not seem to disturb them. When re- turning, about 1:30 p.m., I did not see the birds.--C. B. The Troupial in California.--On April $0, 1911, I obtained near Santa Barbara a Troupial (Icierus icierus), a most beautiful male. The plumage is absolutely perfect? not a feather being frayed in either wings or tail, and the feet are in perfect condition. To me there seems no possi- bility that it can be a cage bird. It was in upper Mission Canyon, a very wild locality, in company with a flock of Western Tanagers that were passing through, and seemed very much at his ease. He was in fine condition, and the stomach was crammed with small green canker- worms.-- J. H. BOWLES. Bobolink at Great Altitude.--It may be of interest to note the presence at Leadville, Colorado, at an elevation of 10,150 feet of two male Bobolinks (Dolichony?c oryzivorus) on the 17th day of July, 1907, a little before nine o'clock in the morning. They we. re on a bunch of weeds, less than half a block east of the Public Library, and not more than twenty-five feet from me as I passed on the sidewalk. I might add that they are the only ones I have ever seen in thirty years experience in this county, which includes the prin- cipal sources of the Arkansas river. Perhaps, when the more absorbing duties of early summer were over, they were seeking, like many another, 'the delightful exhilaration of a mountain trip!--J. CLARENCE HERSE. Unusual Nesting Site of the San Nicholas Rock Wren.--While visiting San Nicholas Island, April 14 and 15, 1911, :ny attention was called to a pair of these wrens (Salpincles obso- legus putverius) carrying nest material into a crack under the eaves of the store-house where the ranch provisions are kept. Both birds were seen at work at the same time. About 20 men (sheep shearers, et al. ) were at work 15 to 30 feet distant, and were constantly passing and enter- ing the store-house. The birds entered the nesting-site while I was stand, ing within five feet of the building.--C. B. LINTON. Field Notes From the San Joaquin Valley.--Beginning March 5 of this spring (1911) the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California has kept a party in the San Joaquin Valley, central California, for the purpose of investigating the mammal fauna of the region. While the bulk of attention was necessarily devoted to the trapping and study of mammals, some observations were made on the birds of the region traversed. The writer of the present sketch spent about five weeks with the party between March 5 and May 5, and the following scattered. information relative to the birds is selected from his note book as being thought worthy of being made accessible to the bird student in general. A few specimens were taken and comments on s?me of these are also added. California Jay (?lphetocoma californica). Of extraordinary abundance in the vicinity of Raymond, Madera County. I used to be skeptical of the notion that Jays have very much dele- terious influence on the small bird life of a locality. But after witnessing a single jay despoil a Brown Towhee's nest and eggs in spite of the spirited defense put up by both owners, and after seeing another jay beating a young sparrow to death, I feel inclined to attribute the relative scarcity of small birds around Raymond to the presence of so many California Jays. The place would appear perfectly suited to a large population of gnatcatchers, bush-tits, towhees, wrens, vireos and warblers, but the expected species were either scarce or wanting. Five jays' nests each with eggs or young were encountered, although I was not hunting for birds' nests. These were in small oaks or ceanothus bushes, four to ten feet above the ground, with no apparent at- tempt at concealment, beyond that incidental to support and shade. Western Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum bimaculalus). A single speci- men obtained on an, {?lfalfa patch at Earlimart, Tulare County, April 30.