Page:Condor21(3).djvu/34

128 THE CONDOR "Vol. XXI Aechmophorus 'occidentalis in Lower California in $ummer.--There is apparently no certain breeding record for xechmophorus occidentalis south of the United States, and in fact its nesting in the extreme southwestern corner of this country is largely Inferential. It is known to spend the summer at Tulare Lake, and also in suitable places near San Diego, California, but there is no instance of the actual finding of the nest in either of these localities. In this connectibn it may be of interest to record two speci- mens of this species collected by Mr. L. J. Goldman of the Biological Sthwey in June, 1915, at Volcano Lake, northeastern Lower CoJifornia. These are now, respectively, no. 259881, U.S. Nat. Mus., taken June 9, 1915, and no. 259882, U.S. Nat. Mus., taken June 10, 1915. Mr. Goldman reports that this species was common from May 1 to June 11 (when he left the region) in the delta of the Colorado River. He says that they moved principally in pairs, but he was unsuccessful in finding a nest.--Hxm?z C. OSr?HOLSER, Washington, D.C., February 3, 1919. Sea Parrots Washed up on Beach at Eureka.--One male Frater. cula cornicu?ata, and six Lunda cirrhata were taken February 16, 1919; also another lot on February 23, 1919, one m?le and one female Fratcrcu?a corniculata and twelve Lunda cirrhata. All were found dead on the beach and all were in winter plumage. Evidently a violent storm at sea had caused this fatality among the Puffins.--Fr?Kr?i? J. S?ITH, Eureka, Calilo.r- nia, February 26, 1919. Notes on the Weights and Plumages of Ducks In New Mexico.--During the shoot- ing seasons of 1917 and 1918 the writer kept a record of weights and peculiarities of plumage of ducks killed in the Rio Grande Valley near Albuquerque. The weight records, plotted as seasonal curves for each species, show tentatively some interesting facts. The curves for all species .are flat for the period from October 16 to November 1. The curves for all species show an increase in. weight from November 1 to November 15. After November 15 the curves are subject to sudden drops, and during the winter period to very gradual drops. The sudden drops appear to be coincident with severe general storms.. The gradual winter drop seems obviously due to cold weather and scarcer feed. Weight curves for Mallards were drawn separately for hens and drakes. The curves for the two sexes are parallel, and show an apparently constant difference of a little more than one-half of a pound. The sudden drops in the Mallard curves (assumed to be due to general storms) coincide interestingly with certain variations in plumage. When the season opens, on October 16, Mallard drakes, while easily recognizable, have the rusty heads, brown breast-spots, blackish wash on the under parts, and undeveloped curly feathers above the tail, all of which i.ndicate immaturity. By November 15 practically full adult plumage is attained. But when the first cold storm has passed, drakes o! immature plumage and much lesser weight again appear. Apparently the storm drives out most of the southern- raised, early-hatched, full-plumaged birds and replaces them with northern-raised late hatched birds of decidedly immature plumage. These late-flight birds are of lesser weight, not only because of immaturity, but probably also by reason of their long trip from the north. It is noticeable that these cold-wave Mallards are not so wary as the early i?ovember birds. Drakes with some indications of immature plumage are occa- sionally found even among the winter-resident ducks in January. One often hears sportsmen boasting about four-pound ducks. I have yet to see one. The fall ducks here are all very fat, but the heaviest duck I have killed was a 3? lb. Mallard drake taken November 15, 1918. Individual drakes at any one time will vary ? lb. in weight. The lightest drake taken was one weighing 2 lbs., December 1, 1918. The average weight in November, when they are fat, is 2% lbs. Mallard hens weigh from 1? lbs. to 2? lbs. The average is 2? lbs. Pintails vary from early hens at 1? lbs. to late drakes at 2? lbs. The average is 1%lbs. Black Mallards (Mottled Duck?) vary from 2? lbs. to 3 lbs. Baldpates vary from 1? lbs. to 1? lbs.