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20 THE CONDOR [VOL. V other birds were found mutilated in this way. It was my desire to rear a number of nestlings for a small aviary, but of the scores of nests I had to select from, less than a dozen remained undisturbed until the yonng were hatched. Only nests in and about the orchard were molested, and here I have examined over a hundred shells; a few were broken but most of them had a small jagged hole in the side. Jays and shrikes never venture about the house. A bird must do the work; or if not, what? ERNEST ADAMS, Clipper Gap, Cal. 1?Io88y l?lurres.--During the summer one often finds on Monterey Bay solitary murres (Uria cal*.'fornica) which have not been able to join the hordes of their kind at the regular breed* ing grounds on the Fatallone Islands or elsewhere. Specimens obtained often proved to be re- markably emaciated and so weak as to be unable to fly. Perhaps a failure to properly preen themselves accounts for a greenish or brownish green accretion which forms a zone across the breast and along the sides of the body .just at and a little below the water-line. One bird in par- ticular which washed ashore near the Hopkins Laboratory last year had a broad oil green band across the breast. Microscopic examination showed the feathers of this region to be closely covered by attached masses of diatoms. I sent some of these feathers to Dr. George C. Whipple of New York, who identified the prevailing species of diatom as Fra?ilaria pacifica Grum., with some ?reridion circulate, both of which are figured in Wolle's "Diatomacea? of North America." The same or similar plants may be found on any floating body such as driftwood, or on piling. The birds with this conspicuous discoloration across the white under surface are sometimes un- able to leave the water, the feathem having soaked through, and the whole bird become almost water-logged. These individuals may have become decrepit from old age, or accidentally disabled in some way.--JoSEPH GRINNELL. The Hummingbirds of l*?seondido and iinity.--Of all the hummingbirds of this locality the black-thinned (ale.randri) is by far the most common. The first year I collected here the hummers were very common. A small citrus nursery not far from one place seemed to abound with them, nearly all being of the black-thinned variety. Here they build their nests in the young trees, using willow. cotton, and the down from the yonng sycamore leaves for mater- ial. It would be hard to tell how many nests were built and occupied, but a{ least twenty or more were found containing eggs and young. But where have they gone ? In I9OO there was hardly a nest built in this nursery. My notes show that I observed but two nests of this species during that season, the first one being found May e, containing one fresh egg, which I supposed hatched with the second egg in time. Two nice sets of Anna hum- mers were preserved during that season, being taken in May. The composition of the nests was quite different from that of the black-thinned, consisting of withered leaves and feathers, all being covered with the usual amount of spider web. These were placed in oaks well up on the hill side. I found but four nests of the black-chinned and one of the Anna. I have failed to find this family of birds breeding here as early as recorded further north, my earliest record being that of the Anna just mentioned which was found on March I7, containing two young about one-half grown. I have noticed but one specimen of the rufous hummer here. It was a male late in the summer of I9OO, so I have no reason to believe they breed here. To sum up I have recorded two species breeding, black-thinned and Anna together with one probably migratory, namely, the rufous. The Alien variety is found breeding about twenty miles further inland in the pine belt, a friend of mine having found a nest containing two eggs which he collected with one of the parent birds.--NELSON CARPENTER, Excondido, Cal. Confirmation of a Reeorcl.--In my Sur River article in the last CONDOR (Vol. IV, p. I?5), doubt was expressed as to the proper identity of certain species previously attributed to the re- gion in a published paper by Milton S. Ray. In the case of "Amrnodrarnus savannarum per- pallidus" (=Amrnodra,nus savannarum btmaculatus)Mr. Ray has submitted for re-identifica- tion the specimen which he secured, thus substantiating his record. A seacoast breeding station for this species seems exceptional.--J. GRINNELL. leurther lgotes on the Pine 8iskin -On September ?, I found two nests of Spinus pinus containing newly hatched young. As with the majority of birds in this country, it would be difficult to call these second or third sets, as nesting seems to be a continuous performance, and indulged in at any time during the season that a pair of birds happen to feel like it.--J. H. BowLES, Tacotna, IVash. QueIy.?Can any of the readers of T?E CO?-DOR give me any information as to best places to go on the Alaskan coast for the purpose of photographing colonies of seabirds?--E. R. WXRREN, Colorado Springs, Col.