Sept., 1911 A HYBRID QUAIL 1,51 will be found a remarkably even balance of characters derived from each; this is especially true of the coloration. In size it more nearly approaches the larger species, but the tarsus is the same length as that of L. c. ca//./brnictts. Interesting results might be obtained from a study of series of specimens from the same locality. * SOME BIRDS OF THE SAN QUENTIN BAY REGION, BAJA, CALIFORNIA By ALFRE1) B. IIOWELL AN QUENTIN BAY is a body of water some five miles wide at its greatest width, and seven miles long, situated midway between Lat. 30 and 31 N. With the exception of a very narrow and tortuous channel the water is but a few feet deep, and at low tide the exteusive mud and sand flats which are exposed make ideal feeding grounds for vast flocks of waders. It is the winter home a.lso of hordes of ducks. To the eastward lies a plain thirty miles long, which gently slopes upward tmtil tell miles away it is gradually lost in the foothills of the San Pedro Marfir Mountains. This plain being rather barren aud dry has few forms of bird life except at its lowest portion where there is a series of fresh water lagoons. Betweeu the bay and tile sea lies a strip of wind-blown sand. From April 26 until May 3, 1910, I was at the village of San Quentin; and from July 19 until the 23d we were anchored in the bay. The following statements hold good for both visits unless otherwise stated. I passed San Martin Island (opposite the bay) at 4:30 a.m. on April 26. Black-vented Shearwaters (tt>u_tffnus op[slhome/as) were swarming around the boat, circling in their characteristic way, while a great many COllid be seen leaving or returning to tile hillside where a large colouy was evidently nesting. Cassin Auklets (Plychoramp/tus aleuticus) aud Xautus Murrelets (Brachyramphus hypoleucus) were also present in some numbers, while White-winged Scoters (0idemia de?landi) were numerous both outside and inside of the bay. Peli- calls (Pelecanus cali?tbrnicus) and both of the Cormorants (Phalacrocorax a. albo- cilialus and P. penicillalus) sailed past us, but not until we were well iuside the bay did I see something which I have always louged to observe. A sandy tide islaud was black with cormorants, but it was too far away to determine the species. There were acres of them, scores of thousands, and after we had passed they began to leave in a long black ribbon, never varying in thickness or width, and continuing for more than an hour, by which time we had passed out of sight. Twenty miles from land, ou July 24, four Black-looted Albatrosses (Diomedea nt)ffripes) put in an appearauce as we were becahned, aud remained with us throughout the day, paddliug about the boat, and investigati?g in the most friendly way imaginable. I threw bits'of bread to them when they were within ten feet of me, but except for carefully examining it, they would have nothing to do with it. One of them coutinually craned his neck straight up as far as it would go, while swimming in circles around allother. All four left for the open sea late in the after- noon, ill the wake of two large whales. At this time ]?uffinus opislhomelas seemed to be absent, but on the 19th I wit-
- Mr, Geo, D. Peck has generously donated this specitnen to the University of California Mu.seum of Vertebrate
Zoology. in which it is no. 19113 of the ornithological conection.--H. $. S.
