Page:Condor6(2).djvu/16

42 'I'HE CONDOR VOL. VI way that seems remarkably loud to one accustomed only to the notes of the former. Another peculiarity of the desert quail is the queer sound that it makes as it rises from the ground on being surprised into flight---the sort of screeching cackle, on a small scale, that a hen makes when frightened from her nest." Accipiter v. rutilatus. Western Sharp-shin. Mr. Mailliard saw one quietly flitting along some pepper trees near the Springs, doubtless on the lookout for robins. Accipiter cooperi. Cooper Hawk. Single individuals were several times seen flying along the base of the mountain. Their approach was usually announced by the excited chirping of a scattering flock of linnets, which, however, kept at a re- spectful distance in the rear. Buteo b. calurus. Western Red-tail. Two or more roosted regularly in some tall cottonwoods near the Springs, being generally seen as they were arriving at night. Mr. Gilman showed us a nest, from which he had secured eggs many years ago, built in a cranny on the face of a cliff at the mouth of Andreas canyon. Bubo v. paciticus. Pacific Horned Owl. Heard nightly about the Springs, especially just at daybreak. Prof. Kellogg flushed one from among some boulders on the mountain side back of town. Geococcyx californianus. Roadrunner. Fairly common. Dryobates p. turati. Willow Woodpecker. Mr. Mailliard found a.bird of this species in Andreas Canyon, and was also sure of the identity of one seen near the Springs. The willow woodpecker is doubtless only a winter visitant from the westward. Dryobates s. bairdi. Texas Woodpecker. Several were seen and one secured out on the deserts southeast of the Springs. They were shy and led a hot chase, flying long stretches to alight but a minute or so on some cactus. An individual of this species was found in Palm Canyon working on a palm trunk; another was almost daily seen in the cottonwoods close to the hotel. Sphyrapicus r. daggetti. Sierra Sapsucker. Mr. Mailliard secured a typical example of this bird. The characteristic borings of sapsuckers were to be seen abundantly on pepper trees about town. Colapres c. collaris. Red-shafted Flicker. Common about the Springs and in Palm Canyon. Mr. Mailliard secured an interesting "hybrid," with the under surface of wings and tail yellow and malar patches red. Calypte anna. Anna Hummingbird. A number were noted at the canyon mouths and about the Springs. Calypte costar. Costa Hummingbird. Two males in full plumage were taken and others seen. They were feeding about a red-flowered desert shrub. Trochilus alexandri. Black-chinned Hummingbird. One was taken and sev- eral others seen. I was not previously aware that either the black-chin or Costa hummer remained throughout the winter in any part of California. Sayornis saya. Say Phoebe. Fairly common. But as usual in winter seen only solitarily, mostly on the plains. Sayornis nigricans. Black Phoebe. Several noted in Palm Canyon, and one at the Springs. Carpodacus m. frontalis. House Finch. Abundant e?erywhere, especially in the vicinity of water; many old nests in palms. Astragalinus psaltria. Arkansas Goldfinch. Often seen about the Springs, and in brush along the ditches out on the desert. Chondestes g. strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. One small flock and three individuals were encountered close about the Springs. Zonotrichia 1. gambeli. Intermediate Sparrow. A few were met with in