died, nor why the Jew was authorized to sell the same to the stranger who was within his gates. L. BELDING, Stockton, Cal.
Curious Nest of Anna's Hummingbird.
On Feb. 23 I collected a nest of Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 60 feet up in the very top of a tall gum tree. The hummingbird had used one side of an old goldfinch's nest, and there she had a soft nest of feathers. This bird evidently had an eye for business, as the goldfinch's nest, cosy in itself only required a little lining. Unfortunately the one egg which the nest contained was broken in getting it down; the nest I regard as a "freak," as I have never heard of a hummingbird using any old nest except its own.
On April 5 a friend brought me two eggs of the Killdeer (Aegialitis vacifera) taken in the middle of a railroad track, directly between the ties. This track is the main one on the Santa Fe between Santa Monica and Los Angeles and at this place runs through the Ballona swamp. W. LEE CHAMBERS, Santa Monica, Cal.
Breeding of the Western Robin in Lake Co., Cal.
From time to time I have been informed that the Western Robin (Merula m. propinqua) nested in Lake Co., at about the same elevation as Clear Lake, which is between 1400 and 1500 feet. I have long been anxious to verify this statement but until June 12 of this year had been unahle to do so. On that date I was walking in the lower foothills when an old robin with food in its bill flew past me into a white-oak tree, when observing me, it began to screech most vociferously. Looking the tree over carefully I discovered a nearly fully-fledged young bird sitting upon one of the branches, and further search in near-by trees revealed another young robin. Neither flew well or willingly and were apparently not long out of the nest. Since the beginning of May I have noticed four distinct pairs of Western Robins; one pair on the ranch here whose two young I observed; another pair on the road to Upper Lake, whilst the two remaining pairs have frequented an orchard at Upper Lake. I have had the pleasure every Saturday since early in May of seeing one or more birds there, but have failed to discover a nest or other sign of their having bred. A.W. Jotso, Upper Lake, Cal.
Notes on the Loon, Evening Grosbeak and Broad-tailed Hummingbird.
While at the Hatchery on Battle Creek, California, in the fall of 1898, I secured a loon which came ashore entangled in the salmon seine. The specimen was taken alive and uninjured. Similar catches have been reported previously from the eastern United States. Dr. C. W. Richmond, who kindly identified the bird, pronounced it Gavia imber. On February 24, 1901 , Mr. Walter E. Bryant secured two specimens of Coccolhraustes v. montanus at Santa Rosa, Cal., and tells me there were several others in the trees near his house. Some time ago (Auk. XIV p. 91 ) I recorded the Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platyercus) from Oakland. While the record was correct, it had been reported previously for the state. Dr. J. G. Cooper took a female at Lake Tahoe many years ago (proc. Cal. Icad. Sci. 1st ser, IV, p. 7) It is also reported from the Sequoia National Park and as common on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in California opposite the head of Owen's River (N.A. Fauna, No. 7, P59 R. C. McGregor U.S.S. Pathfinder.
CHAS. W. BOWLES of Waldo, Oregon, writes of taking four sets of Black-throated Gray Warbler's eggs and a set 1/2 Pileated Woodpecker, thus confirming the suspicion that the Northwest is the oologist's paradise.
