PROCEEDINGS OF THE California Academy of Sciences FOURTH SERIES Vol. XIII 1923 printed from the John W. Hendrie Publication Endowment SAN FRANCISCO Published by the Academy 1923 COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION George C. Edwards, Chairman C. E. Grunsky Barton Warren Evermann, Editor CONTENTS OF VOLUME XIII PLATES 1-13 Title-page - i Contents — iii Preliminary Diagnoses of four new Snakes from Lower California, Mexico, by John Van Denburgh and Joseph R. Slevin; published July 25, 1923 _ _ 1 A new Subspecies of Watersnake (Natrix vibakari ruthveni) from Eastern Asia, by John Van Denburgh; published July 26, 1923 3 Further Notes on the Birds and Mammals of Siskiyou County, California, by Joseph Mailliard; published September 13, 1923 7 Fall Field Work in Plumas and Yuba Counties, California, in 1922, by Joseph Mailliard; published October 15, 1923 29 Observations upon the Bird Life of Death Valley, by Joseph Grin- nell; published November 6, 1923 _ _ 43 Notes on the Hepaticas of California, by Alexander W. Evans; published November 6, 1923 „ „ _ Ill Freshwater Mollusks of Eagle Lake, California, by G. Dallas Hanna; published March 18, 1924 _ 131 Notes on some Echinoids from the San Rafael and Tuxpam Beds of the Tampico Region, Mexico, by Merle C. Israelsky; pub- lished March 18, 1924 ^ _ 137 Description of a new Genus and Species of Freshwater Gastropod MoUusk {Scalez petrolia) from the Etchegoin Pliocene of Cali- fornia, by G. D. Hanna and E. G. Gaylord; published March 18, 1924 - _.- 147 Rectifications of Nomenclature, by G. Dallas Hanna; published March 18, 1924 „ „ 151 Vodgesella, a new Genus-Name for a Paleozoic Crustacean, by Fred Baker; published March 18, 1924..„ 187 Notes on the Herpetology of New Mexico, with a List of the Species known from that State, by John Van Denburgh; pub- lished March 18, 1924 _ 189 The Genus Erythroneura in California (Homoptera), by E. P. Van Duzee; published March 18, 1924_ _ 231 A new Species of Whale from the Type Locality of the Monterey Group, by G. Dallas Hanna and Mary E. McLellan; published June 14, 1924 - 237 <^3y iG Contributions to Oriental Herpetology. I. Sakhalin, by John Van Denburgh; published November 6, 1924 _ 243 On Laticauda schistorhynchus and Laticauda semifasciata, by John Van Denburgh; published November 6, 1924 247 New Melyrids from Southeastern California, by Frank E. Blais- dell, Sr.; published November 6, 1924 „ 249 The Ophiurans of Monterey Bay, by Raoul Michel May; pub- lished November 21, 1924 _ 261 Parasitic Bees (Epeolinas and Melectinae) in the Collection of the California Academy of Sciences, by T. D. A. Cockerel! and Grace Sandhouse; published November 21, 1924 305 Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Gulf of California in 1921. Chrysididae from Lower California, by Leland H. Taylor; published November 29, 1924 325 Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Gulf of California in 1921. The Bees (III), by Grace Sandhouse and T. D. A. Cockerell; published November 29, 1924 333 Bees of the Genus Osmia in the Collection of the California Academy of Sciences, by Grace Adelbert Sandhouse; pub- lished November 29, 1924 _ _ 341 Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Gulf of California in 1921. Crustacea (Brachyura), by Mary J. Rath- bun; published November 29, 1924 373 Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Gulf of California in 1921. Crustacea (Macrura and Anomura), by Waldo L. Schmitt; published November 29, 1924 381 Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Gulf of California in 1921. Opisthobranchiate Mollusca, by Frank M. MacFarland; published November 29, 1924 389 Notes on West American Whale Barnacles, by Ira E. Cornwall; published November 29, 1924 _ _ 421 Report of the President of the Academy for the year 1924, by C. E. Grunsky; published May 29, 1925 431 Report of the Director of the Museum for the year 1924, by Barton Warren Evermann; published May 29, 1925 441 Report of the Treasurer of the Academy for the year 1924, by M. Hall McAllister; published May 29. 1925 _ 488 Index to Volume XIII - 495 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fourth Series Vol. XIII, No. 1, pp. 1-2 July 25, 1923 I PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSES OF FOUR NEW SNAKES FROM LOWER CALIFORNIA, MEXICO BY JOHN VAN DENBURGH, Curator AND JOSEPH R. SLEVIN, Assistant Curator Department of Herpetology This paper is based upon material secured during a recent visit to the Todos Santos Islands and the San Pedro Martir Mountains. One of the chief objects of this expedition was the securing of more information regarding the garter-snakes of the San Pedro Martir Mountains, the status of which had never been satisfactorily settled. The material now at hand makes necessary the description of these garter-snakes as a distinct subspecies. The discovery of the other new snakes was quite unexpected. The presence of a king snake on South Todos Santos Island is most interesting in its zoogeographical aspects. 1. Diadophis anthonyi, new species Diagnosis. — Similar to D. amahilis amabilis but with collar obsolete and edges less definite ; gastrosteges heavily marked with complete or interrupted transverse black bars, instead of more or less numerous black spots. Scales in 15 rows. Gas- trosteges 180 to 192; urosteges 64. Supralabials 7-7; in- fralabials 8-8. Type: Adult male. No. 56766, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., col- lected May 30, 1923, by Joseph R. Slevin on South Todos Santos Island, Lower California, Mexico; two paratypes, Nos. 56764 and 56765 from same locality. CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 2. Lampropeltis herrerae, new species Diagnosis. — Similar to L. sonata but with the red of that species represented only by a few small lateral blotches or spots of very pale pink usually evident only on the neck ; snout black. Scale rows 23. Gastrosteges 217 to 220; urosteges 52 to 59. White rings on body 36 to 41 ; on tail, 8 to 10. Type: Adult male, No. 56755, Mas. Calif. Acad. Sci., col- lected May 25, 1923, by Joseph R. Slevin on South Todos Santos Island, Lower California, Mexico ; eight paratypes, Nos. 56756 to 56763 from same locality. 3. Lampropeltis agalma, new species Diagnosis. — Similar to L. sonata but with upper surface of snout largely red instead of black. Scale rows 23. Gastro- steges 207 to 213; urosteges 52 to 56. White rings on body 40 to 45 ; on tail, 8 to 10. Type: Adult male, No. 56856, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., col- lected June 16, 1923, by Joseph R. Slevin at about 7,000 feet altitude near Alcatraz, San Pedro Martir Mountains, Lower California, Mexico; one paratype, No. 56879, from Valladares Creek, San Pedro Alartir Mountains, Lower California, Mexico. 4. Thamnophis ordinoides hueyi, new subspecies Diagnosis. — Similar to T. o. vagrans but with dorsal spots and dark gastrostege markings usually less evident and gastro- steges fewer. Scale rows 21-19-17. Gastrosteges 151 to 161; urosteges 66 to 82. Supralabials usually 8-8 ; infralabials normally 10-10; preoculars 1-1. Dorsal line complete, its bor- ders often invaded by more or less evident dorsal spots ; an- terior edges of gastrosteges with more or less concealed dark pigmentation. Type: Adult female. No. 56855, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., col- lected June 13, 1923, by Joseph R. Slevin at about 7,300 feet altitude near Arroyo Encantada, between La Grulla and La Encantada, San Pedro Martir Mountains, Lower California, Mexico; ten paratypes, Nos. 56852 to 56854 and 56856 to 56862 from same localitv. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fourth Series Vol. XIII, No. 2, pp. 3-4 July 26, 1923 II A NEW SUBSPECIES OF WATERSNAKE (Nafrix vibakari ruthveni) FROM EASTERN ASIA BY JOHN VAN DENBURGH Curator, Department of Herpetology Anyone who examines the table of scale-counts of speci- mens of Matrix vibakari given by Dr. Stejneger in his Herpe- tology of Japan and Adjacent Territory (p. 270) must be struck by the fact that specimens from the Asiatic mainland have fewer urosteges than those from the islands of Japan. The same difference is shown by the series in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences. In Matrix tigrina, from the same regions, a similar differ- ence in the number of urosteges in the mainland and island specimens has been found and is recognized in nomenclature, the island form being called Matrix tigrina tigrina and the mainland one Matrix tigrina lateralis. No good reason is evident why these differences should be recognized in one instance and not in the other, and, since the island form of Matrix vibakari served as the basis of the original description, I now propose that that form be known as Matrix vibakari vibakari while those from the mainland are called Natrix vibakari ruthveni Van Denburgh, new subspecies Diagnosis: Similar to Matrix vibakari vibakari but usually with fewer urosteges (55 to 65 instead of 63 to 83). 4 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Type: An adult male, No. 31,487, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., col- lected at Fusan, Kjong-Sang-Do Province, Korea, May 8, 1911. • Remarks: These subspecies seem to differ in no important respect other than in the number of urosteges. These plates average 71.4 in thirty- four specimens of Natrix vibakari vihakari from Japan, while the average in nine specimens of Natrix vibakari ruthveni from Korea and Siberia is only 61. There seems not to be much sexual difference in the number of urosteges in either subspecies, since in A'', v. vibakari the aver- ages are 74 in fourteen males and 71 in twelve females, while in N. V. ruthveni the counts in three males average 61 and in four females, 60. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fourth Series Vol. XIII, No. 3, pp. 7-28 September 13, 1923 III FURTHER NOTES ON THE BIRDS AND MAMMALS OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA BY JOSEPH MAILLIARD Curator, Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy In the spring of 1920 a field party from the Department of Ornithology and Mammalog}^ of the California Academy of Sciences, made a partial survey of portions of Siskiyou County, CaHfornia (Mailliard, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., Vol. 11, No. 5, pp. 73-94). This survey was again taken up in 1922, and carried on from May 13 to June 28, inclusive. The party consisted of Mr. Herbert Barth, of San Francisco, California, and the writer, and was equipped with an automo- bile and full camping outfit. The main object of the work was to ascertain definitely v.hether any birds of the genus Passerella (fox sparrows) were nesting in the mountains west of Shasta Valley, or in the Salmon Range still farther west, and, if so, to what race they belonged. These mountains appeared to afford ideal breeding grounds for this genus, but during the Academy's survey of 1920 no breeding birds were taken, nor had fox sparrows ever been recorded from there. In addition, it was desired to determine whether the Olive- backed Thrush (Hylocichia iistulata sivainsoni) is a stray, a migrant, or a regular breeder in Siskiyou County. The making September 13, 1923 g CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. of further observations upon the Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax griseus) was also an object. Weed, our first stopping place in Siskiyou County, was reached early in the afternoon of May 13, and camp was estab- lished at the edge of a meadow about a mile south of the town. The oaks and willows were but just budding out at the time, as the spring had been a cold, late one, and there had been a fall of snow only a few days before our arrival. This camp at Weed seemed to be in a most promising look- ing place for finding bird life plentiful, and, as the meadow contained quite a growth of willow, it was reasonable to expect to find numbers of thrushes there. In both these respects we were disappointed, for birds proved to be very scarce, while no thrushes appeared at all, although they had been numerous at Weed at the same date in 1920. In that year this meadow was the breeding ground of a good many Modoc Song Spar- rows (Melospisa melodia £sherella), but on this second occa- sion not one of these birds was seen anywhere in the vicinity. On May 14 the nest of a Sierra Junco (Junco oreganus thurhcri) was found with fresh eggs, one of which was on the ground outside the nest. This ^gg was returned to its proper place and the next day the bird was found sitting on her nest. Mouse and rat traps were set each night at this camp, but the returns from them were very meager, and consisted of only common species of Peromyscus. Extra attention was paid to meadow mice (Microtus), but not a sign of one was found in the meadow. Nothing new was added to the list of birds noted on the visit of two years before. It was not the intention to remain long in this vicinity, as Bray seemed to be better adapted to our needs, judging from previous experience, but before going there a side trip was made to Big Springs, about 18 miles north of Weed. This visit \vas made principally to ascertain if there were any land or freshwater snails there, and also to find out if the singular asso- ciation of juniper, sage, and lava, extending over many square miles in that vicinity was attractive to other than the usual species of birds found in this county. Big Springs, or Mayten, is situated at an altitude of some- thing less than 3000 feet. In the lagoon formed by the arti- Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS 9 ficial damming of the flow from the large springs no fish have ever been noted, and it has been generally supposed that there were no mollusks; but fish were seen not far below the dam in the stream flowing from it, and we found a few shells of three species of mollusks in a shallow part of the lagoon, which at no point is very deep. We came to the conclusion that shells were very scarce, however, for three hours' work brought to light only about 30 specimens, all told. Shells may be more numerous in other parts of the lake, but that is improbable, as several different places were examined without results. Much to our disappointment we found, in this vicinity, only the common birds one would expect to find in the average locality of like altitude in this part of the state, and there was nothing of any especial interest in the juniper forest. Traps were set for mice, with practically no results. Big Springs was visited by the Alexander Expedition of 1911, early in June, but the outlook was so unpromising that only a short stay was made there (Univ. Calif. Publ., Zool., Vol. 12, Nos. 12-13). On May 18 camp was shifted to Bray, which is about 36 miles northeast of Weed and some 20 miles from Mt. Shasta, with the intention of remaining there some days. From Weed to Bray the only route that was passable at that time was the Deer Mountain road — reaching an altitude of over 6000 feet where it crosses the summit of the range — from which the snow had but lately melted. Although much of the country on either side of the road appeared to be suited to some species of birds, hardly any were seen on the journey. The weather had changed from unseasonable heat, with thunderstorms, to cold and threatening weather. Advantage was taken of the fact that the cabin occupied two years previ- ously by the Academy party was vacant, and it was promptly reoccupied by ourselves. Before moving in, however, a search was made, within a radius of several miles, for a more promis- ing camping and collecting ground, but none was found. May 19 was cold and windy, with rain in the evening, and birds were very scarce. No thrushes were seen or heard, apparently none having yet arrived at this altitude (4700 feet). The cabin occupied by us is situated on the edge of a mountain meadow through which Butte Creek runs. This 10 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th See. meadow varied from, say, 200 to 400 yards in width, and ex- tended down the stream for over a mile, having some thick patches of willow and cottonwoods in places, which were ideal for thrushes. This year, however, there had been so great a snowfall in the mountains that the meadow was too much flooded to permit us to get about satisfactorily in it ; and besides, the high water prevented us from crossing a number of little streams, which was a serious handicap to our prospective work there. I had planned to make a study of thrushes in the willows and cottonwoods at Bray, but was prevented from doing so by these conditions, and no other good thrush habitat was dis- covered in the vicinity. There were clumps of willows here and there, but those examined did not seem to be just suited to the needs of the thrush family, as no members of it were dis- covered in any of them. Later on several of these birds were noted among the cottonwoods, working up the creek that runs through the long meadow just mentioned, and sometimes a few notes of the thrush were heard, but this genus was very scarce at Bray in this particular season. May 20 was cold and rainy, with snow falling at slightly higher altitudes, and but few birds of any kind were seen. A pair of Ospreys (Pandion haliactus carolincnsis) were seen hovering over the meadow, and occasionally catching one of the black bass that came downstream from Lake Orr, only a mile or so away. These bass either were suffering from some disease or were injured in a cascade on their way down, as they were usually in a dying condition when they reached the mea- dow, where they were eagerly sought by Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura septentrionalis) and Ospreys, as well as by predatory mammals. On the visit of two years ago the Ospreys were nesting above the meadow, but this season they must have had a nest somewhere downstream, for they were seen every day carrying fish in that direction. Two gulls, apparently a pair, were also noted on the lookout for these dying or dead bass. From field glass examination at some little distance they appeared to be the California Gull (Larus calif ornicus), and they were most probably on their Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS l\ way to one of the interior lakes to the northward, where this species is known to nest. Visits were made to various locahties within easy reach with the car from this camp, the first being made to Orr Lake. No birds of consequence were seen there on this occasion, but a lot of freshwater shells were obtained in the hope that something of interest in this line might be developed. It has since been determined, however, that the shells found there were of widely distributed species. About May 22 the weather became warm and pleasant, and the next day we took a trip to the sagebrush plain near McDoel, about 14 miles north of Bray. Here a few Sage Thrashers (Oreoscoptes montanus) were seen or heard, together with some Western Vesper Sparrows (Pooocetes gramineus con- finis) and Brewer's Sparrows (Spii^clla hreivcri), but nothing else of note. Close examination of the sand under the sage- brush failed to show any signs of rodents, nor were there any small holes in the ground that appeared to be occupied by any- thing but lizards or toads, so that the idea of going there to trap for rats or mice was abandoned. On the way back from McDoel two nests of the Mountain Bluebird were taken, both with sets of fresh eggs. The nests were between the stringers of railroad crossings, where the automobile road was cut through a fill. These passes were concreted on the sides and bridged over for the railroad track. The nests were composed of astonishingly large masses of straws and trash, carried in between the heavy stringers on the top of the concrete wall, and almost filling up the space be- tween them, while the nest proper was some distance in and was only about three inches in diameter and two inches deep, inside measurement. The first nest was found when the female flew off it as our car passed through the cut on our way out from camp. This nest was about nine feet above the bottom of the cut, and it was rather surprising that the slight noise made by the car should have flushed the bird, when heavy trains frequently passed only two or three feet overhead. It also happened on our return that a gang of railroad men were engaged in weed- ing the right-of-way, hoeing and shoveling directly over the nest, and yet the female was sitting when we investigated it. J2 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. The second nest found was about 12 feet above the road bed, and the owner remained on it until we disturbed her when ex- amining the nest to see if it were occupied. Both these nesting places had been used before, to judge by the accumulation of old straw and rubbish upon which they were placed. On the day that these nests were found (May 23) a Northern White-headed Woodpecker (Xenopicus alholarvatus albolarvatus), a species new to our list of the birds of this lo- cality, was seen near Keg, a railroad station about three miles north of Bray and at a little lower elevation. May 24 was windy all day, clouding up and raining in the evening. That day, however, several thrushes were noted working upstream along the edge of the meadow. Three of these were secured for examination as to subspecies, with the hope that one or more might prove to be the Olive-backed Thrush (Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni) , but they could only be included with the Russet-backed (H. u. ustulata). This date was the first on which any thrushes were heard singing. It rained hard in the evening with a south wind, but in the night the wind shifted to the north and at daylight next morning everything was covered with a beautiful mantle of snow. The wind, however, shifted back to the south again about seven in the morning, and by night the snow had nearly all disappeared. Several pairs of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were breed- ing among the willows at the edge of the meadow, and one of the nests, with twelve eggs, was found by Barth on May 26. This nest was not disturbed at the time, but was found des- troyed a few days later, when the eggs were within a day or two of hatching. This was probably the work of a coyote which we had heard in the vicinity about that time. Appar- ently the sitting bird was killed and eaten. As time passed birds seemed to be becoming scarcer, rather than increasing in numbers, in the vicinity of Bray. A scat- tered few of the commonest birds, such as jays and robins, were nesting around, but species of special interest were very poorly represented. One of the objects of the visit to Bray was to note the proportion of Gray Flycatchers (Empidonax griseus) to the other species of the genus, and to take notes on its nesting. There were so few individuals at Bray this season, Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS \T, however, that it seemed to be a waste of time to wait there in the probably vain hope that more might come in. Scattered here and there one might see or hear a member of the Empi- donax group, but these were all inordinately wild and hard to approach this season, for some unknown reason. During our stay of 19 days at Bray, but two Gray Flycatchers and one Hammond's Flycatcher (Ernpidonax hammondi) were secured, and no other representative of this genus was taken there or on any of our side trips around the neighborhood. On May 26, the day after the snowfall, a Townsend's Soli- taire (Myadcstes toivnsendi) was secured, which proved new to our local list ; and another addition, on May 28, was a Mac- gillivray's Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei). In the morning of May 29 we went out about 15 miles toward Red Rock Valley, in a northeasterly direction from Bray, and saw a couple of Prong-horn Antelopes (Antilocapra americana americana) feeding in the sagebrush near Tecnor (postoffice), but they were traveling away from us and were too far off to be caught with the camera. Some effort is made to protect the herd to which this pair belongs, but it is a wild country there, and lawless characters are quite numerous at times. The result is that the herd leads rather a precarious existence, although hay is doled out to it during very severe weather. One determined, interested warden, stationed throughout the fall and winter at Bray, or Tecnor, could accomplish much in the way of conserving the antelopes and deer of that vicinity, but, as it is, the warden nl Yi-'^ka has this large area in charge, besides his own, and seldom r-^a^es this locality after the snow commences to fly in earnest. A visit was made to Butte Lake on May 30. The lake was very full of water, but a lot of shells were found along the edge, which proved to be of common, widely distributed forms. The sage plain between McDoel and Mt. Hebron (this latter place being a tumbledown little hamlet right out in the sandy sagebrush, miles from a mountain) was searched on the way for nests of the Sage Thrasher, but without much success from an oological standpoint. Several old nests were found, and one or two that seemed to be new, but neither eggs or young were found in any of them. 14 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. On May 31 we went to Tecnor again to look for Sage Grouse, but did not see a sign of any. It was reported that sheepmen had been in there a great deal of late, and that while their sheep destroyed a good many nests, the sheep herders at- tended to the destruction of the birds. Anyway, these birds seemed to be very scarce in this region, where they were formerly very abundant. On our visit to this locality two days before, we had come across a small flock of Piiion Jays (Cyaiiocephalus cyanoce- phaliis) in a part of the national forest that had not yet been touched, and found that this band consisted of several families of old and young. The latter were being fed principally upon the soft, fat pup?e of a Cicada which must have existed in numbers in the foliage of the yellow pines there, to judge from actions of the birds. Mouths and throats of old and young secured by us were crammed with these insects. The stomachs of these birds were saved, together with several of the insects taken from the birds' mouths, and sent to the U. S. Biological Survey for the identification of the various insects that were being used for food by these birds at the time. While passing through this same strip of forest on the second visit to Tecnor, some more of these birds were seen and heard. The song of the Russet-backed Thrush was heard again on the evening of May 31, for the first time since the snow of the 26th instant. On June 1 a visit was made to an old sawmill on Antelope Creek, a few miles away, the :/icjnit^' of which appeared to be an ideal place for birds. Hc'-e we found plenty of water, a variety of association, some open land, willows, sagebrush, large and small pines, various bushes, but veiy few birds. One matter of interest, however, was the presence of the White- crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys). The elevation here was about the same as that of Bray, at least 4500 feet, and there did not seem to be any particular reason why this bird should be at one place and not the other, yet here i<" was and there it was not. Several individuals were seen, but this was the only time this species was noted in Siskiyou County by the Academy party, during either visit. Another trip was made to Orr Lake on June 2, via Keg, to investigate the sagebrush plain beyond the lake. This lake lies Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS ]_5 only a short distance from Bray, but the high water had washed out the bridge just outside the village and we had to go several miles around to reach it. On this occasion a couple of Black-billed JNIagpies (Pica pica hudsonia) were seen close enough for positive identification, and a nest was found from which the young had but recently departed. A young man working near by spoke of this nest, and said that he had seen the young in it but a few days before our visit. Another addition made to our local list was Clarke's Nut- cracker (Niicifraga columhiana) , a couple of which were seen and one secured for the record. There were a good many thick clumps of willows near Orr Lake, and many acres of sagebrush, but a lengthy search of the vicinity of the lake brought to light only two very wary flycatchers (Empidonax sp.) and no thrushes or other birds v/hatever, with the exception of a few very common warblers. A Western Nighthawk (Chordeiles virginiamis henryi) was seen flying overhead on this date, which was identical with that of its first appearance here in 1920. On June 3 another addition to the list was made when a solitary Vaux's Swift (Chcctura vauxi) was noted. Although this bird was mentioned in the Merriam report of 1898 as being common in the fall at Sisson, and a questionable record of one occurrence was therein given for Mt. Shasta, this was the first time I had come across the species in Siskiyou County. After having watched a Killdeer (Oxycchus vociferus) going through various deceptive antics, calculated to draw our attention away from a certain area at the rear of our cabin, we finally discovered the nest on May 20. Analysis of the bird's actions seemed to show that incubation had not commenced until that date, or possibly the day before. The eggs hatched out on June 4, showing that the incubation period with this species is about 15 or 16 days. During the snowstorm of May 25 the birds exhibited great anxiety, neither of them going far from the nest when disturbed and returning to it very promptly. When we first arrived the birds made a great fuss whenever we came in sight, and for several days after the set was complete the sitting bird would hop off the nest if one of us appeared even in the door of the cabin, but they gradu- J 5 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. ally grew more reconciled to our presence and would not stir unless we approached to within 30 or 40 feet of the nest. In the cottonwoods across the meadow from our cabin Paci- fic Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus paciUcus) were heard a few times, but no other species of owl was noted. An owl trap was maintained for a while on a favorably placed post within sight of the cabin, but without result. Toward the end of May the young of the Oregon Ground Squirrel (Citellus oregonus) were large enough to crawl out of their holes occasionally when the sun was warm, but there was no indication of any of the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels (Callospennophilus chrysodeirus chrysodeirns) hav- ing as yet brought forth their young. The situation in regard to mammals this year at Bray was about the same as it was on my previous visit, except, perhaps, that mice were scarcer and Oregon Ground Squirrels more abundant, as well as less wary, than before. As the high water in the meadows and the scarcity of birds at Bray did not seem to warrant a further stay there, our head- quarters were moved to Yreka. The first intention was to go by way of Goose Neck Mountain, with the idea of staying over a night or so near the summit of the pass in order to see what fox sparrows might be breeding on the mountain. When it was learned that the road was still treacherous on account of the heavy snows of the season, this idea was abandoned, and the journey back was made over the Deer Mountain road, and then by a short cut across Shasta Valley, kindly shown to us by Deputy Game Warden J. O. Miller, of the Yreka district, who was making the trip that day. A sharp watch for birds was maintained along the way, especially around the 6000 feet elevation of Deer Mountain, but as was the case going over this route three weeks previously, hardly any birds were seen. Yreka was reached about the middle of the morning of June 5, and a search for either a cabin or a good camping place v;as instituted, as the plan was to remain there long enough to enable us to make out a list of the birds of that locality, and to secure what we could that might be of interest in the way of specimens. After considerable inquiry and search, with no re- sults so far as a good camping place was concerned, we secured an old miner's cabin, which was situated in a very isolated spot Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS \y just outside the western limit of the town. This cabin had been unoccupied for some time, but there were no traces in it of the presence of rats or mice. Traps set among the scattered sage- brush and other bushes near it, and in the alfalfa field across the road, failed to bring in any returns whatever. The alfalfa fields in this locality are as often as not on hillsides, and with- out irrigation, yet there were no signs of gophers anywhere in the vicinity, nor were any rodents obtained therein. We were informed that a good deal of poisoning had been carried on in these fields, but it hardly seemed possible that such work could have made so clean a sweep of ground squirrels, gophers, mice, etc., as was indicated in this vicinity. It seems reasonable to believe that some other factor must have been at least partly responsible for this state of affairs, a condition that was most pleasing to the farmers but rather the reverse to the collector. A few mice and common wood rats were found in the brush farther back at the base of the hills, but even here they were very scarce. Tin can traps, Vernon Bailey type, for catching specimens alive, were maintained along a road running up into the cafion to the Osgood mine, about a mile back of our cabin, but the results were so meager that this trap line was aban- doned after a few days' trial with various baits. Yreka is in a small valley by itself, on the banks of a little stream called Yreka Creek draining into the Little Shasta River to the north. The elevation is about 2600 feet and the zonal character of the country is nearer Upper Sonoran than anything else. This, however, runs rapidly through Transition into Canadian on the mountains west of the town. There is a good deal of open land in this valley, mostly with a poor- looking soil, and there are some areas of sagebrush; but the hills to the westward are covered with various sorts of brush, scrub oaks, and timber. Most of the soil is stony or gravelly, and a great deal of placer mining has been done in this vicinity. Some mining is still going on, and the hills are scarred with numerous tun- nels, dumps, prospect holes, and other insults to Mother Earth, incident to the search for gold. A stay was made in this neighborhood from June 5 to June 17, some days being spent in tlie close vicinity of the town and Jg CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. others in prospecting around the adjoining country in the car, observing the bird life and collecting specimens. About the town were a number of common species of birds that one would be apt to find in almost any town in the Sacra- mento Valley. House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus fron- talis) were especially numerous, with many broods of full- grown young flocking together. In the canon and on the hills west of the tow^n the Mountain Quail (Oreortyx picta plumi- fera) seemed to be quite numerous at this time of year, but exceedingly wary. These birds could be heard calling in the brush, but, in spite of long continued effort to secure a speci- men or two for comparison with others from the coast, a fleeting glimpse of a single bird was the nearest we came to securing one. Occupying a territory so near the town, these quail must be hunted unmercifully during the open season, and it is only their extreme weariness that saves the species from extinction in these parts. The Dusky Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris iiicrrilli) is found in places on the undulating, treeless plain east of Yreka, and this bird was especially numerous in Butte Valley, a few miles northeast of the town. In one field of freshly cut and cocked hay there were a great many birds of this species, a large number being young from half to three-quarters grown. Barth made a trip up the mountain directly back of Yreka, leaching an altitude of at least 4000 feet, but did not come across any fox sparrows, although the brushy slopes were well adapted to the needs of these birds. We met the mining en- gineer in charge of the idle Osgood Mine, who was fond of birds in a general way, and asked him if he had seen any fox sparrows in that vicinity, describing the bird to him. He said that he had not noticed any on his walks on the mountain back of this mine, but that he had been staying at the Mt. Vernon Mine, about nine miles by road southwest of Yreka, and that the wife of the superintendent of that mine had shown him some sparrows, which she thought were fox sparrows, that came every day just back of her house to feed on crumbs thrown out to them. A trip was made to this mine and the matter investigated. Mr. and Mrs. Daubyns gladly showed us the birds, which verily were fox sparrows, and very kindly asked us to come Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS \i) out and remain for a few days in order to look around for more, as there were apparently only two or three individuals down at the level of the dwelling house. The Mt. Vernon Pass, through which runs the county road, is about 4400 feet in elevation, while the mine buildings are 200 to 300 feet lower, being situated in a steep canon on the east side of the pass. Around the building were a good many birds of common species, but farther away and up on the mountains on either side of the pass they were very scarce. Traps were set for rats and mice near the mine buildings and in the pass, but hardly anything was taken. About the most abundant bird here was the Sacramento Towhee (Pipilo maciilatiis falcinellus Swarth), and an inter- esting thing about it was the height at which it was n©ted on the mountains adjacent to the Mt. Vernon Pass, it being com- monly found as high up as 5000 feet and over. This altitude was considerably greater than that of any other locality in Siskiyou County in wdiich the Academy party found this spe- cies, upon either the field trip of 1920, or 1922. Mr. and Mrs. Daubyns clear the snow off a place back of their house and feed birds there all winter. They state that some of the Sacramento Towhees remain at that altitude throughout the coldest weather and during the heaviest snows. While it gets very cold in the little hollow under the pass where the mine is located, it is well sheltered from storms and there is plenty of good cover to protect the birds. There are some fox sparrows that come to the feeding ground through the winter, and Mrs. Daubyns thinks that her summer guests are among them, but is not absolutely sure of this. The fox sparrow in this range is practically the same as the one found at the base of Mt. Shasta, that is, the Yosemite Fox Sparrow (Passcrella iliaca mariposcB Swarth). On some maps this is called Forest Mountain Range. The Academy field party of 1920 was encamped for several days near Robbers' Rock, Forest House Mountain, which is in a continuation of this range. In that vicinity, however, we did not find any fox sparrows, or any good brush for them. Even at Mt. Vernon these birds were quite scarce and very wild. We had great trouble in securing any for identification, as we did not wish 20 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. to destroy those that were semi-domesticated in Mrs. Daubyns' back yard. As no birds of this genus had ever been reported in this part of the country, however, we made patient attempts to obtain some, and finally succeeded in securing a few upon the range above the pass. On the former visit to this range, the Sierra Hermit Thrush was found breeding in some numbers near Forest House Mountain, but on the Mt. Vernon portion of the range this species was very scarce. I heard one singing in the woods high upon the ridge, and, after several attempts, finally succeeded in getting very close to it, without securing it, however, and no other opportunity offered. This bird probably had a mate nesting near by, but only one other individual was heard during our stay, and none seen. The two that were heard were at an elevation of about 5000 feet. A mile or so south of Yreka some dredging operations had been carried on in the valley of a small creek running down from the Mt. Vernon Pass. This valley is fairly level and com- paratively wide for about a mile above its junction with the Yreka Creek, and some small ponds had been left at the edge of the great masses of gravel piled up by the dredge. Tules and willows had taken possession of these ponds and a small colony of Nevada Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phocniceiis nevadensis) had been nesting there. A few of the young ones flying about were taken for comparison with specimens of juveniles of other forms of this species. A pair of Virginia Rails (Rallus virginiamis) was also nesting in one of these ponds. Such other species of birds as we noted on this part of the Pbrest Mountain Range were about the same as those already recorded as occurring at the Forest House Mountain camp of 1920. We had gone to the Mt. Vernon Mine on June 13, which was the first day since June 5 that there had not been from one to three thunderstonns a day, with occasional torrential showers and continual threats of more. On June 16 we returned to Yreka for the remainder of our outfit which had been stored there, and on the next day we moved camp to a spot near the summit of the Salmon Mountain Range, on the road from Scott Valley to the forks of the Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS 21 Salmon River, about nine miles southwesterly from ^tna Mills (Siskiyou County). There is a government bench mark denoting 5969 feet beside the road at the summit of the pass. The only accessible spot level enough for our car and camp that we found on the mountain side within several miles of the pass was about three-quarters of a mile from the summit on the north side, at about 5500 feet elevation. Here a remnant of an old stage road was still passable enough to enable us to get about 100 yards from the present road, and gave us space enough to park the car and set up camp beside a noisy little stream coming from the melting snowbanks higher up. Patches of snow yet remained a short distance above camp, and there were some very heavy drifts on the north side of the pass which appeared to be deep enough to last through the summer. The draft of air that set down this canon through the night was anything but warm after passing over these snowbanks, and the birds of the vicinity evidently preferred a more moderate temperature. In the bottom of the canon hardly a bird was seen, and this was the case with the northerly ex- posed hillsides. The small mammals also had the same prefer- ence for wamith as had the birds. The southerly exposures of this mountain range are more or less covered with different species of Ceanothus and other brush, in the warmer places with few or no coniferous trees growing among it, but in colder spots with var3dng degrees of tree growth scattered through it until replaced by actual forest. In places where there was plenty of water near the surface, there was a dense growth of scrubby willows, flattened down by the winters' heavy snows, through which one could make one's way only by means of the ill-defined paths used by cattle during the summer months. Through most of this brushy country fox sparrows were nesting and some of them were taken for identification. Up to this time no member of the genus Passerella had been recorded from this part of the state, so that it was with con- siderable interest that the first specimens were here secured. One of the main objects of coming to this locality was to en- deavor to define the range of the Yolla Bolly Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca hrevicauda Mailliard), which race is known t(j breed on the mountains of Trinity and Tehama counties, to 22 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. the south of Siskiyou County. We know something about the southern limits of its range but nothing was known concerning the northern extension of its habitat. The specimens taken here on the Sahiion Range, appeared to be more or less inter- mediate between the Yolla Bolly Fox Sparrow and the Yosemite Fox Sparrow ( Passer ella iliaca mariposcE Swarth), making it evident that we were approaching the necessarily rather indefinite boundary line between the summer habitats of these two races. While the fox sparrows in California are inclined to be very wary, and usually select nesting sites in well-hidden places where they are not apt to be disturbed, they sometimes go to the other extreme. For example, Barth found a nest, with young just hatched, not 10 feet from the road, over which heavy trucks were daily passing, transporting equipment for some hydraulic plant that was evidently being established on a large scale. The noise made by these trucks on the steep grade was deafening, but that did not deter the birds from the work of incubating the eggs. This nest was built about four feet from the ground, in a branch of a fir sapling, the sapling being one of a small clump by the side of the road. Except for these trucks and an occasional band of cattle driven over it, there was but little travel on the road, so that bird life was not seriously interfered with in that region. The mail carriers who take the mail over the pass are furnished with cabins in which to live in the winter time during the season of heavy snow. We had permission to use one of the cabins, but they were in such positions that it was impossible to get the car to either of them, and as there was no place in which to park it along the narrow road, the idea of making a stay in one, in order to have better protection in case of bad weather, had to be given up. It seemed as if hermit thrushes should be breeding in such a place as this, but only the Russet-backed Thrush (Hylocichla iistulata iistiilata) was found. A few males of this species were heard above our camp, but they were remarkably wild and hard to locate. One nest was found in a bush of Ceanothns velntinus, and, after many trials, the parent was secured for positive identification. The few of these thrushes we took are Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS 23 paler in color than the general run of this subspecies, but not enough to place them with any other form. In a small willow on the steep mountain side just below a very heavy snowdrift, a Wright's Flycatcher (Empidonax wrighti) had built a nest. The selection of this site was another instance of poor judgment on the part of a bird, for it was at the edge of a cattle trail that had been cut through the thick willow copse to expedite the handling of the large bands of cattle which are driven into the mountains in the spring and out again in the fall. Just before the nest was found a band of cattle had been driven through this short cut, and they cer- tainly must have brushed against the tree in a manner most threatening to the existence of this nest. Other than fox sparrows, only some 25 species of birds were noted here during our stay. As there was nothing among them that one would not expect to find in just such a locality, it hardly seems worth while to enumerate them. It was rather singular, however, that no grouse or quail were in the list of birds seen or heard here, although the locality was explored to some extent both above and below the altitude at which our camp was situated. Traps were maintained for small rodents and some were taken, mostly Peromyscus of common species. The ants here were especially voracious and ruined many of our catch before we could get around to rescue them. The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel ( C alios per mo philus chrysodeirus chryso- dcirus) was present in small numbers near camp, but did not seem to be very active, as it was seldom seen. One female that was captured contained four embryos in about the same stage of development as some from an individual taken a month earlier at Bray, at nearly the same elevation. On June 20 the weather became cold, cloudy, and threaten- ing. As we wxre in a poor place to stay through a storm, and as the object of the visit to this range had been accomplished — that is, the discovery of fox sparrows thereon, and the se- curing of some of these birds for specimens — we packed up and left the next morning, with the intention of examining the range between Scott and Shasta valleys. For a long time it had seemed to me remarkable that the Alexander Expedition of 1911 to northern California had 24 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Skr. come across fox sparrows in summer in but one place, which was at Castle Lake, some miles south of Sisson and on the Sacramento watershed. In her report upon this expedition Miss Kellogg^ says, referring to Castle Lake, "The latter was the only locality where any form of fox sparrow was encoun- tered during the summertime." The only answer that sug- gests itself to this is that the Alexander Expedition did not happen to settle down in, or examine, any spot at the higher altitudes which are adapted to the needs of this genus. Either that, or else som.e of the forms of this genus must be extremely erratic in habits and choice of breeding ground. According to the map of the itinerary of the expedition, Misses Alexander and Kellogg, traveling by stage, passed through the spot where our next camp was made, and where we found fox sparrows quite common, though not very numerous. This was on the southern slope of Gazelle Moun- tain, about a mile by road south of Gazelle Mountain Pass, where we established our headquarters at the edge of a rather open forest of oak and yellow pine, with patches of Ceanothus of various sizes scattered through it. A tiny ditch, which was probably an old mining ditch, brought water to a small ranch house a couple of hundred yards below us. The buildings here were evidently those of an old stage station, with the necessary barns, etc., and the place is down on the maps as Mountain House. It turned out that this camp was only seven or eight miles west of Stewart's Springs, where we failed to find any fox sparrows in 1920. Callahan Mountain, several miles away to the southeast, v/as opposite us, and was connected with Gazelle Mountain by a rocky and brushy mountain range, probably nowhere much over 1000 feet higher than the pass, which is about 4000 feet. The southerly side of Gazelle Mountain, on the other hand, is a good deal diversified, with open stretches, brushy spots and considerable timber, although none of the latter is at all thickly set. This timber is rapidly being destroyed by one of the detestable sawmills that are ruining so much of our beautiful timber country with their ruthlessly destructive methods. ^Mammals and Birds of Northern California. <;Univ. Calif. Publ., Zool., Vol. 12, p. 384, 1918. Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS 25 Upon our arrival at this place my first thought was that it would prove to be about the worst collecting ground we had as yet come to, which would have been poor indeed. It was a hot day and but little evidence of bird life appeared that afternoon. In the refreshing coolness of the early hours of the next morning this idea was soon discarded. There was more bird life around us than in any other place we had visited in Siskiyou County, showing that this little, narrow, but rather open valley must be a favorite spot for many species. Evidently its climate is a comparatively moderate one, judging from the character of the plant life, and the rainfall must be rather light, the Salmon Range to the westward catching most of the mois- ture before it reaches Gazelle Mountain. A great mixture of plant life was noticed here. Yellow pines, various oaks, scrub- oak brush, Ceanothus, etc., occurred in larger or smaller areas, often separated by thin patches of sagebrush. The soil is rocky and of poor quality, and grass was almost non-existent, the ctried remains of the little that had grown looked as if the growth had been checked soon after it started. Yet, in spite of its unpromising appearance, this locality proved to contain more species of birds and more individuals than any we had previously found. The greatest surprise in this line was the presence of fox sparrows here, not in abundance, but well represented. The form breeding here is the Yosemite Fox Sparrow, though with rather a heavier bill than belongs to this race farther south. Just back of our camp near the Mt. Gazelle Pass were some small clumps of buck brush (Ceanothus cuneatus?) scattered through the very open woods, and I had some mouse traps set in some of them. Every time the traps were visited in a certain one of these clumps, about 75 yards back of the camp, there was a male fox sparrow singing close by, and several times another fox sparrow suddenly appeared on top of a bush at one corner of the clump. It seemed as if there must be a nest in that particular, rather large, spreading bush, but dili- gent search on several occasions failed to reveal one, although the female fox sparrow frequently appeared to flush from near the center of it and very low down. She would sneak away and join the male somewhere near, then the two would soon return. The pair would then go into the bush together and the 2< CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. male would come out alone, fly into a nearby tree and begin to sing. Finally, on the morning of the last day of our stay there, it was arranged that at a given signal Barth would ap- proach quietly from the outside toward this corner of the clump, while I crawled cautiously into the brush, until within sight of this bush, with the idea of possibly being able to see the bird when it flushed. By good fortune the scheme worked well, and the nest was located. It turned out to be set in the ground, directly under and against one of the central trunks of the bush, in such a position that only when the sun was shining through the trees in such a direction as to illuminate to some extent the interior of the bush on the proper side, could the nest be distinguished through a small opening among the branches. The nest contained tvvo fresh eggs and evidently was not finished when its existence was first suspected. The female was secured for positive identification, but the male kept on singing in the vicinity for the greater part of the day, as if nothing had happened to disturb his family life. During our observation of these fox sparrows, the male was twice seen viciously driving away from the vicinity of the bush, under which the nest was finally found, a diminutive and unobtrusive little Western House Wren (Troglodytes aedon parkmani) that was busily searching for insect food with which to appease the voracious appetites of its young, which were clamoring constantly for more in an old woodpecker hole in an adjacent stump. While watching these sparrows we witnessed a singular fight, high up in the air, between a pair of Western Red- tailed Hawks and a Golden Eagle. The Hawks were badger- ing the eagle, which probably had intruded upon their self- determined domain, striking at him, sometimes separately and sometimes concertedly, generally from above. When struck at, the eagle would scream in what seemed a terrified manner, although this might have signified only rage. No damage was apparent from our position, and no feathers were seen to fly. Most of the 40 species of birds noted here during our stay were those that might be found in the Transition Zone almost anywhere along the foothills of the Sierras on the east side of the Sacramento Valley, the exceptions being the Sierra Red- breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapiciis varins daggetti) and the Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD— BIRDS AND MAMMALS 27 Mountain Bluebird (Sialia airrucoides), which are usually found rather higher up than in the foothills proper. But one owl was heard and none seen at this camp, the one heard being a horned owl, probably the Pacific Horned Owl (Bubo Virgini- an us pacificus). If there were any other species of owls about they kept remarkably quiet. The season vcsiS by this time getting late for collecting, so but few adult birds were taken on account of the danger of breaking up families of young. Juvenile birds were especially sought for, to complete series for life histories, but it seemed to be still a little too early to find young ones out of the nests. Small mammals were scarce. As is the case in a good part of Siskiyou County, pocket gophers (Thomomys) were not in evidence here. The small irrigating ditch, mentioned above, wound its way around the hillside without interference from these pests, and quite a field was kept green below it by the simple expedient of checking the flow of water in the ditch at intervals, and letting it spread slowly down the slope of the hill. This could not be done if gophers were present, for the reason that their burrows would carry off the water so rapidly that the soil would soon wash away. The time allotted to this field work was rapidly drawing to a close, and, on June 26, camp was broken at Gazelle Mountain and a start made toward home, with the intention of passing a day or two near the highway between Weed and Sisson. On that day we made a stop between these two places, about four miles from Weed, in a small grove of coniferous trees about three-quarters of a mile from the base of the prominent cinder cone called Black Butte, to see what there might be in that region at this date. The weather had been very warm for several days, and on this particular afternoon it was really hot, yet, in spite of the intense heat, a few fox sparrows were singing near camp at intervals until after sunset. At this place the early morning was quite chilly, and it was noticeable that these birds did not commence to sing until the sun had wanned up the air very perceptibly. The fox sparrows apparently were well along with their nesting here, yet, late in the season as it was for this elevation (probably 3500 feet), an apparently new nest was found with 28 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th See. nothing in it, but with the owner hovering near. There were a good many chipmunks in this locaHty and perhaps some of them were responsible for the emptiness of the nest, as ob- servers in certain locahties blame these animals for the large number of robbed nests they have noticed. Some mouse traps were set out around camp the afternoon of our arrival here, but only two were sprung, and the two young Peromyscus they contained had been badly damaged by ants before they were found early next morning. Traps were also set in a promising looking meadow across the road, but without result. Contrary to our experience in other parts of Siskiyou County, we found gopher workings quite abundant at this spot. In the extremely dry, ash-like soil it was dif^cult to locate fresh workings, and a single gopher might be respon- sible for a large number of the mounds visible in the vicinity. One specimen, Thomoniys monticola, was secured. No owls were noted here, but a Pacific Nighthawk was heard at intervals throughout the night. It was rather re- markable that owls were heard at only two places on this strip of seven weeks' duration, and then none but the Pacific Horned Owl. This may perhaps be accounted for by the notable scarcity of small mammals wherever we went. This field trip was concluded on June 28, and the return made to San Francisco. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fourth Series Vol. XIII, No. 4, pp. 29-41 October 15, 1923 IV FALL FIELD WORK IN PLUMAS AND YUBA COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA, IN 1922 BY JOSEPH MAILLIARD Curator, Department of Ornithology and Maminclogy The autumn field work of the department for several years past having been carried on in the mountain ranges between the Sacramento Valley and the coast, principally for the pur- pose of observing the fall migration of birds, especially of fox sparrows, it was decided to examine the foothills on the northeastern side of that valley in the fall of 1922, with a similar object in view. With no data at hand as to favorable localities for such work, and utter failure being the result when it came to ques- tioning individuals in this regard, it was a matter of pure guesswork where to make a start. As the town of Quincy, Plumas County (California), at an elevation of 3180 feet, seemed to be well situated, judging by the map, and as there was living there a man who was known to be interested in natural history, although in an untrained way, it was decided to make this place the first objective, and it was reached by way of Oroville on September 8. It was hoped that a good spot might be found on the road to Quincy, in the 64 miles over the mountains from Oroville, but nothing in the way of an attractive locality was found at October 15, 1923. 30 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. a sufficiently low altitude for the work. At altitudes of from 5000 to 7000 feet on the mountain range between Oroville and Quincy there was a good deal of brush land, varied by timber and open places, that looked all right, but no bird life was noted as we traveled slowly along. It was hardly to be expected that any large number of birds would choose such altitudes for lines of migration at this time of year when they would be subject to the very extremes of temperature and succession of storms they were traveling southward to escape. However, in early autumn this is not a fixed rule, for birds often remain at comparatively high altitudes, when attracted there by a plentiful food supply, until actually driven out by adverse weather conditions. Quincy lies in quite a level little valley, in which there are probably at least 2000 acres of good to fair meadow land, with a stream or two running through it. Out in this open land there were a few of the species of birds that are seen in the fall almost anywhere in the Transition Zone in Califor- nia, the Western Meadowlark (Stiirnella neglecta), Califor- nia Brewer's Blackbird (EupJiagus cyanocephalus minusciihis Grinnell), Audubon's Warbler (Dendroica auduboni audu- boni), and Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana occidentalis), with a few goldfinches and a common hawk or so, being the principal species noted. Rather strange to say, there were no marsh sparrows (Passerculus) seen anywhere in these open fields. Southeast of Quincy there is a good deal of fairly level land that was covered formerly by coniferous forest, but which has not only been denuded of trees, but has been de- vastated by numerous fires. In this territory there were but few birds, and no flycatchers, of which not a single representa- tive was noted during our stay of nine days. On the mountains about Quincy there is some rough, rocky country, with forest running up the canons, yet there was but little "buck brush", or attractive looking cover for fox spar- rows within reach. Running through the center of the meadow west of the town was a sort of slough, probably an old bed of the stream which flows through the valley; and along this slough was a heavy growth of brushy willows, forming a fine cover for sparrows. In the thickest of this Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD—FALL FIELD WORK, 1922 3^ willow growth there were a great many song sparrows, and one or two glimpses were obtained of what appeared to be fox sparrows, but there was such a thick growth of grass and weeds from four to six feet high, with about a foot of water at the base, that it was absolutely impossible to carry on satis- factory observations there. As to collecting specimens for identification, there was no use trying, for none could be retrieved from this mass of dead and living herbage. By the kind permission of the owner of the land, camp was made beside a spring of exceptionally pure water at the north- ern edge of a grove of small firs about half a mile west of Ouincy. During our stay here the afternoon temperatures were quite high, when the shade of the trees was much appreciated; but the early mornings were very cold, with frost in the meadow opposite and a cold draft flowing down on the camp from the caiion behind it. It seemed as if the spring, which flowed only for some 50 yards, might frequently be visited by birds, but such was not the case. Birds were most noticeably scarce in the vicinity, and also in an attractive looking cafion near at hand, which had a stream of water flowing down it and brush and forest on its sides. Possibly the fact that this narrow canon had a northern exposure made it too cold to be a favorite locality. There was some good cover here for birds, — consisting of sev- eral different kinds of brush, including Ceanothus, oaks, alders, firs, etc., in profusion, — yet there were practically no birds. A few kinglets, a chickadee or two, a couple of Sac- ramento Towhees (Pipilo maculatus falcinellus), and an American Dipper (Cincliis mexicamts unicolor) were about all that were met with in a half mile walk up this canon to the end of the trail, beyond which the canon was almost im- passable on account of the thick brush and the rough character of the surface. Mr. W. B. Smith, my assistant on this trip, who had had but little experience with birds it should be said, was sent up on the mountain above camp, with instructions to bring in whatever he might come across, but he reported that there was almost no bird life there. 32 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. The country was explored in our car for some miles along each road that led out of the town in an endeavor to find some favorable looking spot for observation, but nothing was lo- cated that appeared to be more promising than where we were. Traps for small rodents were set along the edge of the woods and in the meadow. In the woods very little success was met with except in one instance, when Smith was in- structed to set out some traps along an old brush fence, — this being, incidentally, the first trapping of the kind that he had ever attempted, — and the next morning had a couple of white- footed mice, a shrew, and a Mazama Red-backed Mouse (Evotomys mazama Merriam) in his traps. This last men- tioned specimen is a new record for the interior of California, south of Mt. Shasta. The skin and skull of this specimen were sent to Washington, and finally passed upon by Mr. A. Brazier Howell, who is at present working on the western microtines. He has the following to say regarding it : "The coloration of that Evotomys can be matched in both ohsciirus and masama series. . . . The Quincy specimen is fully as dark as average ohsciirus, but with even less reddish dorsally. However, it has the large feet and bullae usual in mazama, and had better be called that at least until more are obtained. If it has escaped in that region for so long, it may yet be obtained in the more southern Sierras." Mr. Howell is con- fident that these two forms are only subspecifically distinct, as there is so much overlapping of characters. Dr. Walter K. Fisher informs me that he took a red-backed mouse at Quincy nearly 20 years ago, but apparently this fact has not been recorded in any publication. Curiously enough. Smith took nothing else in his traps after having had this one piece of good fortune. In the meadow, traps were first set along the bank of the slough mentioned above, but the results were far from en- couraging although the settings were made in long grass where small runways were easily discernible. In one part of the meadow, where the ground was quite damp, the grass had but recently been mowed veiy short, and here were many holes of meadow mice with distinct runways between. Traps carefully set in these runways brought good results. Fair results were also obtained with some traps set near by in a Vol. XIII] MAILLI ARD—FALL FIELD WORK, 1922 33 Still damper place, where there was considerable old grass yet remaining. This spot, however, was the habitat of a large carrion bettle (Necrophorus Jiecate Bland), which appeared after sunrise and quickly destroyed any of the meadow mice that were still in the traps. Unlike most of the other genera of small rodents, these meadow mice move about to some ex- tent in the daytime, and traps set for them have to be looked after accordingly. In this spot the traps were visited before sunrise and again a couple of hours later, but even so, several specimens caught were dismembered and either eaten on the spot or actually carried away by these beetles. The examples of Microtus secured seem to be of the race described by Dr. Joseph Grinnell as the Yosemite Meadow Mouse (Microtus montanus yosemite). ^ It seemed rather singular that not a single brush (Silvi- lagus) nor jack rabbit (Lepus) was seen in our wanderings in the neighborhood of Quincy. The latter are probably too much cut off by forest from the larger areas of the open country that is their natural habitat, but there seemed to be no good reason for the absence of brush rabbits, as all this valley is in the Transition Zone. Possibly the brush rabbit, cut off from here by the mountain ranges, has never worked up the caiions from its known habitat in the Sacramento Valley. One small family of Mountain Quail (Oreortyx picta plumifera) was found by the road about a mile southeast of Quincy, but no others were seen or heard anywhere in the vicinity. This valley proved to be so barren of bird life that camp was struck on September 16 and the road to Blairsden was taken with the idea of looking for a better locality. Nothing attractive being found, we went over the mountains, by way of Mohawk, Gold Lake, and Downieville to Goodyear's Bar, spending the night at the last mentioned place. On the way over a sharp lookout was maintained for a suitable spot in which to locate. A spring was found near the road, not far from the top of the range just east of Gold Lake, but the altitude was such that it was deemed inadvis- able to camp there. Another very promising looking piece ^Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 27, pp. 207-208. 34 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. of country was passed through at the foot of the Sierra Buttes, at an elevation of probably about 4000 feet, but no spot suit- able for a camp ground was found along this stretch of road. Farther down toward Downieville, the buck brush, manzanita, etc., gave way to a tree-covered country, not favorable for our purpose. The morning following our arrival at Goodyear's Bar, a discussion regarding the character of the country around about was held with the forest ranger, and, from his description, the neighborhood of Challenge, Yuba County, seemed to hold forth the greatest promise of success. Disagreeable as it was to do so, we had to leave the splendid mountain road on which Downieville, the county seat of Yuba County, is situated, and take a rough, steep, and narrow country cross-road to reach our destination. We arrived at Challenge early in the afternoon, and, after a discussion con- cerning the locality with some of its residents, we finally estab- lished a camp at the edge of the woods at the east end of what was known in the placer-mining days as "New York Flat", about three miles west of the Challenge postoffice. This pleasant camp was situated close to a rather ancient ranch house (occupied by a Mr. Wetmore, to whom we w^ere indebted for many kindnesses and courtesies), in a region ap- pearing to be one of much promise. Round about were meadow lands, brushy tracts, and patches of forest, with some abandoned orchards here and there; but we soon found that it was a land of promise only, for, as at Quincy, there was a paucity of both bird and mammal life. The season had been unfavorable in some ways, causing a failure of the acorn crop, and although there were many dead trees with storage holes made by the California Woodpecker, these holes contained no acorns. After searching the country in several directions for better ground, it seemed advisable to move a little lower down to a place called Rackerby, a relic of the old mining days, about six miles nearer Marysville on the La Porte road. At one time a station of some importance, Rackerby is but a remnant of what it used to be, consisting now of only a small cluster of houses and a postoffice. There are a number of old orchards and vineyards in the vicinity, and just across South Honcut Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD—FALL FIELD WORK, 1922 35 Creek, which, at this point, forms the boundary line between Yuba and Butte counties, a ditch that was formerly used in mining operations winds its way along the ridge westerly from Rackerby. In some small holdings on its banks the water from this ditch is used for irrigation purposes, but only to a very limited extent owing to the hilly character of the country. There is some good brush around here, and this was the first time in over 100 miles of search that we came across a 'Spot at a low elevation which seemed one in which to expect to find fox sparrows. In this locality there are some thick patches of manzanita and Ceanothus which appear to be con- nected with like association on a series of hillsides and canons to the north and south. This more or less brushy country is only a few miles wide, with an elevation of probably about 1500 feet above sea level, and extends from the forest country on the east to the more open, oak-covered country on the west. It bore the appearance of being an extremely likely line of migration for fox sparrows. In fact, this stretch be- tween Challenge and Rackerby seems to be the only logical route for this genus to take along these foothills between the Sacramento Valley and the higher elevations of from 4000 to 7000 feet. At the time of our arrival at Rackerby, September 21, the weather was very warm and dry and there was no sign of frost, while at Challenge, 600 or 800 feet higher, the early morning temperatures were below freezing point. Near Rack- erby were a number of beautiful, large fig trees, bearing their last crop of fruit for the season. This crop the owners were busily gathering as it fell to the ground, and drying. Be- sides these fig trees there were several old orchards and vine- yards here, mostly still bearing fruit, and wild grape vines grew along the watercourses. It seemed like an ideal place in which to find many species of birds, but here again their number was small. In fact it was remarkably small, when the profusion of food in the vi- cinity was taken into consideration. Possibly there was less insect life present than one might have imagined, but it was astonishing to find no juncos, tanagers, warblers, chickadees, nuthatches, kinglets, thrushes, or bluebirds at this place, which seemed to be in an association so eminently fitted for these 36 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Species at this time of year. Woods, brush, open lands, weeds, scattered trees, orchards, vineyards, brooks — what more might birds want? One bird, however, was not only common, but sufficiently so to be a nuisance, — so much of a nuisance that the owners of fruit trees had been encouraging the boys in the neighborhood to shoot all of this species that they could, with the result that, while still comparatively numerous, these birds had grown very wise and shy. This pest was the Long-tailed Jay (Aphelocoma calif ornica immanis Grinnell), which was doing all it could to prevent the market from being over- loaded with Rackerby fruit. The first thing we did at this place was to endeavor to lo- cate some springs in the brush where fox sparrows might come to drink. One was found at the side of a road leading to a mine in the vicinity, and it was visited early in the morning of September 22, with some success. Several fox sparrows came to the spring, or were seen in the brush near it, and three of them were secured. The Pallid Wren-tit (Chamcea fasciata henshawi) was very numerous about this spring and so tame that individuals kept coming within a few feet of the observer, scolding, chattering, and fussing around in their customary "busy-body" way to such an extent as to make it very difficult to keep track of the fox sparrows' movements, as any motion of twig, leaf, or other object has to be noted and analyzed during the period of observation. We visited this spring again early the next morning. Three or four fox sparrows had been noted already, and a couple of them secured, when two men came along with picks and shovels and proceeded to drain the spring into a pipe in order to use the water at a distance. While a little of the spring was still available to the birds after this operation was com- pleted, no water dribbled across the road into the brush below, and as it was there in the rather deep bed of the rivulet that the birds preferred to come to drink, the spring was ruined for our purposes. It seemed as if the spring itself, dug out and boarded over as it was, but not screened by bushes, had lost its attraction for the birds, as almost none visited it there- after, although there were some trees and fairly good cover only a few yards distant. Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD—FALL FIELD WORK, igss 37 About half a mile away, in a hollow below a sharp bend of the county road, another spring was discovered, and it was visited in the early morning of September 24. Only a few moments after our reaching it, however, the same miners who had spoiled our other spring for us, came along and com- menced to cut for lire wood the trees directly protecting this one, and frightened any prospective bird visitors away from it. After this episode, a couple of days were spent in investi- ■gating the possibilities of the old mining ditch previously men- tioned, and the brushy patches along it. There were tall weeds in places on its banks, tangles of wild grape vines, wild lilac (Ceanothus), and some quite thick patches of brush here and there not far away, but there were no birds to speak of, not even song sparrows in the damp, weedy spots. Some springs wxre found near brushy country about a mile and a half from our camp, but not very well situated as re- gards safe approach by birds, which would have to pass through some yards of open before reaching the water. A few birds came there, among them two or three fox sparrows, but the place was very difficult to watch properly and so few visitors appeared that it was on two mornings only that any attempt was made by us to do any work there, and then with very little success. The deep, wooded, and brushy canon of South Honcut Creek, a few hundred yards west of Rackerby, appeared to be a good place for certain kinds of brush-loving birds, but an examination of this locality proved that it was almost devoid of bird life. Possibly it was too cold and dark at this time of year, although it seemed to be an ideal place for song and fox sparrows. Along a narrow ridge on the east side of this caiion, and just southwest of Rackerby postoffice, there were some good patches of heavy brush, consisting largely of wild lilac bushes, and, toward the end of our stay at this place, we found fox sparrows there. The creek caiion (with proper cover well up near the top along both sides) runs north and south along here and should be a good line of migration for this genus, but although we found some of these birds in the brush on the east side of the canon, as just stated, we did not find a single one on or near the top of the ridge on the west side, 33 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. notwithstanding the fact that there was equally good cover there. The fox sparrows found on the east-side ridge were ex- tremely shy and difficult to secure in the heavy brush, and were not at all abundant. This condition of affairs was very much the opposite of my experience near the coast in south- western Humboldt County (California) in the previous fall (Condor, XXIV, 1922, pp. 48-53), when these birds were found to be very numerous and tame. The weather had been very dry and warm, actually quite hot in the afternoons, 100 degrees in the shade some days, up to October 1, when a change took place, resulting in wind, rain, and thunderstorms for the next three days. We had been finding an occasional fox sparrow here and there from day to day, but, with the exception of the first day at the spring which the miners spoiled for us on Septem- ber 23, when several individuals had been noted, it was not until October 2 that we saw any number of this species. On that date, in the afternoon after a stormy night and morning, we saw several individuals on the ridge east of South Honcut Creek. Heavy wind and rain occurred on October 3, but after the wind had died down a little an attempt was made to find some fox sparrows between showers, with no success. The weather cleared oft' in the night and on October 4 we found a few of these birds on this ridge, securing five altogether and losing several others. October 5 was fine, but there were not so many fox sparrows about as on the previous day, although several were seen and five more secured. As the next day was the one set for the ending of this field work, observations on the fox sparrows were brought to a rather premature close, but enough specimens had been ob- tained to give a good idea of the status of the subspecies mi- grating along this interior route. For the region we w^ere working in there is little or nothing on record, but, as some winter specimens of the Slate-colored Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca schistacea) have been recorded from Sierra City (vide Swarth, Univ. Calif. Publ., Zool., Vol. 21, No. 4, 1920, p. 201) it was expected that this form would be taken along these foothills among the fall migrants. This Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD—FALL FIELD WORK, 1922 39 turned out to be the case, but the proportion of this form to that of the others taken was much greater than had been an- ticipated. Concerning what other races might be found here one would hardly have been able to make a guess, except that the Yosemite Fox Sparrow ( Passer ella iliaca mariposce), which breeds in the Sierras at 4000 feet (north of the Sac- ramento Valley) and upward, would be the form most likely to be found. Of the 23 fox sparrows we secured at Rackerby, there were 13 Slate - colored, six Yosemite, three Yakutat (P. i. amiectcns), and one Valdez Fox Sparrow (P. i. simiosa). Of these, the members of the Schistacea group, — that is to say, the Slate-colored and Yosemite fox sparrows, with gray coloration predominating and reds at a minimum, — were found from September 22 on to the date of the ending of our work; but the members of the Unalaschcensis group, with red coloration predominating, — namely, the Yakutat and Valdez fox sparrows, — appear to have come to the scene more toward the end of our stay, as none was secured before October 2. During the course of his painstaking and comprehensive work of revising the genus Passerella (Univ. Calif. Publ., Zool, Vol. 21, No. 4, 1920), which resulted in the publica- tion of his valuable addition to our limited knowledge of the life histories of our western representatives of this genus, Mr. H. S. Swarth gathered together for examination about 1800 specimens of this genus from the Pacific coast. Of these, over 700 were in the collection of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, while the remainder were carefully selected according to date of taking, locality, etc., from the available collections of museums and private col- lectors, thus assembling a greater amount of material for working upon than any student of the genus had ever before had access to. In spite of this large aggregation of material, however, the region along the foothills on either side of the Sacramento Valley, especially toward the northern end, is very sparsely represented in the list of localities from which these specimens were secured. From the eastern side of the Sacramento watershed the Slate-colored Fox Sparrow is recorded in this list only from 40 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Blue Canon and Cisco, Placer County, and Sierra City, Sierra County, the two first mentioned localities being quite near each other and about 20 miles south of Sierra City. All three are pretty well back in the mountains, and are close enough to- gether and so similarly situated as to be practically in one region. From the western side of this watershed none of this subspecies is noted in the list, but from that region there are two specimens in the Academy collection, which were taken in Lake County since Mr. Swarth's paper was published. The Yosemite Fox Sparrow breeds all along the Sierras, from central Siskiyou County south through the Yosemite region, but fall and winter records are very scarce, except in southwestern California, where a few winter records have been made. In place of finding this race numerous at Rackerby, as had been anticipated, comparatively few were taken, and they were not at all typical mariposce. In fact, I had to com- pare them very carefully with the closely allied races before deciding to place them with that subspecies. The six speci- mens procured at Rackerby stand in a group by themselves when their bill measurements are compared with those of other lots of unquestionable, breeding mariposce, measured by myself, in that the maximum length, width, and depth of bill of this lot of six specimens is but little greater than the mini- mum respective measurements of these parts in the other, and numerically larger, lots of breeding birds, while the colora- tion is about the same in all. In my judgment they are inter- graded with megarhyncha. In Swarth's list of specimens examined there is only one record of the Yakutat Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca an- nectens) from the Sacramento catchment basin, and that is from Tower House, Shasta County, 18 miles northwest of Redding, and there are only two other records given for the whole interior part of the state of California, one from Stock- ton, San Joaquin County, and one from Hume, Fresno County, although there are numerous records from on or near the coast. Of this race we secured three specimens, as stated above. On the other hand, we took only one Valdez Fox Sparrow on this trip, although there are many records from both the Vol. XIII] MAILLIARD—FALL FIELD WORK, 1922 ^\ coast country and the Sierras, with a few records from the Sacramento Valley proper. On October 6 this field trip was concluded, and the return to San Francisco begun. Nothing of note was observed on the return trip except that there were swarms of small birds, of very common species, in the less elevated part of the open oak region just before the actual floor of the valley was reached, and in one place near this locality, a few miles north- east of Marysville, there were quite a number of Magpies (Pica nnttaUi nuttaUiJ. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fourth Series Vol. XIII, No. 5, pp. 43-109, 1 text figure November 6, 1923 OBSERVATIONS UPON THE BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY (Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California) BY JOSEPH GRINNELL It is customary to fix in more or less arbitrary fashion upon some definite limitation for any territory to be the subject of a faunal report. This is, as a rule, a necessary procedure; and political boundaries usually are chosen. In the present case the boundary selected is a natural one, namely, the topographic contour of sea-level; the field of observation concerned lies within the contour on the Ballarat and Furnace Creek sheets, United States Geological Survey, marked "(X)". No species whatsoever is dealt with that was not found in Death Valley below sea-level, that is, from 00 down to the lowest point, namely, about — 280. The observations here given first record were made during two stays in Death Valley, in April and May, 191 7, and in April, 1920. In the first instance, the writer and Mr. Joseph Dixon, both of the staf¥ of the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoo- logy, entered the Valley by the way of the road down Furnace Creek Wash on April 2. The writer left on May 2, via Ryan; but Mr. Dixon was in the Valley at intervals until May 22, when he left by the Emigrant Canyon road. In 1920, the present writer, in company with Dr. Francis B. Sumner, of the November 6, 1923. 44 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIEXCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Scripps Institution for Biolog-ical Research, came into the Valley down the Emigrant Canyon road on April 2. And the two of us left on April 22, via the Furnace Creek Wash road. The first of these field trips was made possible through special gift of funds for the purpose by Miss Annie M. Alexander through the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. The expenses of the second trip were met from funds supplied by Mr. E. W. Scripps through the Scripps Institution for Biological Re- search. During the greater part of the time spent in Death Valley, headquarters were maintained at Greenland Ranch (Furnace Creek Ranch of the maps) where a bench-mark shows an altitude of — 178 feet. Stations were also made for varying periods elsewhere in Death Valley as follows : Salt Creek, at the crossing of the "road", —200 feet, April 13-14 and May 19-22, 1917, and April 2-3, 1920; Triangle Spring, —13 feet, April 14-18, 1917; Eagle Borax Works, —250 feet. May 4-6 and May 17, 1917; "bad water" (of the Furnace Creek sheet, U.S.G.S.), about —280 feet, April 21-22, 1920. From each of these stations birds were looked for closely within a walking radius, which, however, under the conditions obtaining, seldom exceeded three miles. In addition to these original sources, everything else I know of relative to the ornithology of the area in question is included in the present paper. Very important is the report upon the ornithology of The Death Valley Expedition of 1891 (A. K. Fisher, 1893). All the facts set forth in that publication, and of any definite bearing in the present study, are incorporated here. Also, in May, 1921, I took occasion to look up practi- cally all of the specimens collected by that expedition in Death Valley, these specimens being contained in the Biological Survey collection. United States National Museum. It must be kept in mind that the limits here set (sea-level on all sides) rule out a number of the early "Death Valley" localities, such as Saratoga Springs, from which birds have been recorded. Local aid has been received, which has contributed directly to the fullness of the account now offered. Lasting gratitude is due to Mr. Oscar A. Denton, foreman of Greenland Ranch, not only for the very many courtesies extended during the stays of myself and companions upon property under his Vol. XIII] GRINN ELL— BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 45 charge, but also for information in regard to the animal life of the vicinity. Rarely have I met a man with such regard for accuracy of fact. I learned to place explicit reliance upon Mr. Denton's word, whenever he felt that he had grounds for expressing himself positively. Mr. Dane Coolidge, litterateur of Berkeley, who has visited Death Valley several times, has also contributed information of value. In all such cases, source is indicated. Otherwise it is to be understood that the specimens and original notes gathered by Mr. Dixon and myself, and forming the chief basis of the present report, are contained in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Opportunity is here taken to record the weights of a con- siderable number of birds. Comment will be found here and there in the annotations to species which goes to demonstrate the usefulness of weights, to at least as great degree as measurements, in distinguishing closely related forms. The weight is taken just before a bird is skinned, on a balance type of scales ("Cenco") reading to tenths of grams. In some cases colors of soft parts are given. Comparisons have then been made of the fresh specimen directly with the plates in Ridgway's "Color Standards" (1912). The birds given formal entry in the accompanying annotated list number 124. The presence of each of these one or more times in the below-sea-level portion of Death Valley has been established on good evidence. Analysis of this list shows a constituency by seasonal categories which is much different from that usually obtaining in local lists; the proportion of breeding species to casual visitants, transients and winter visitants is exceedingly small. There are 25 species out of the 124 which all the evidence at hand indicates to be but casual visitants, that is, vagrants of irregular or more or less unexpected appearance in the particu- lar area under consideration. There are 45 species which are believed to be through and regular transients. There are 32 species which are winter visitants, though contingents of some of these are also transient, so that such species are far more commonly in evidence at migration time than in winter. There are but 10 species in the summer visitant category, and only one of these, the Bullock Oriole, is definitely known to breed in the below-sea-level area, and tliat one only on Furnace 45 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Creek Ranch, where conditions are, in a sense, "artificial." The other nine species in this category breed in adjacent terri- tory, and individuals "drop in" with more or less frequency. Finally, in the category of permanent residents there are only 12 species. All of these are believed to breed in the below- sea-level area. The following four are dependent on the ex- istence of the Ranch: Killdeer, Desert Quail (introduced), Western Meadowlark, and English Sparrow (non-native). There are left but eight species which are native in, and doubt- less breed "at large" in, the restricted area in question, namely: Prairie Falcon, Burrowing Owl, Road-runner, Say Phcebe, Western Raven, California Linnet, Leconte Thrasher, and Rock Wren. Thus no more than 7 per cent of the total number of species of birds now known from Death Valley breed there outside of the precincts of Furnace Creek Ranch. The rest, 93 per cent, are transients, visitants or vagrants, or else owe their presence as breeders to the conditions developed by irrigation in the one small spot. Of course, the factor operating chiefly as cause of this situation is the lack of food accompanying the extreme type of desert condition prevalent. There are long stretches in the bottom of Death Valley that are to all appearance lifeless. The associations (plant and animal) occurring in Death Val- ley may be designated as follows : tule, pickle-weed, salt grass, arrowweed, mesquite, aeolian sand, creosote bush, desert holly (wash-fan), and rocky gorge. The "borax" flat proper, which occupies the lowest part of the floor of the valley, seems to be lifeless, at least as regards vertebrate animals, save incidentally as when birds and bats fly over it, or the larger mammals walk across it. The accompanying conventionalized trans-section will give an idea of the associational relations obtaining as a usual thing up to sea-level. This diagram illustrates conditions in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch; the associations not indi- cated thereon but mentioned above are of local occurrence else- where. The pickle-weed association is finely developed at Salt Creek. The aeolian sand association recurs in a number of places, but reaches its greatest development at the south side of Mesquite Flat (see Ballarat sheet, U.S.G.S.). The tule association is represented in limited extent at some of the Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 47 larger springs. For a discussion of the associational phase of avian distribution the reader is referred to a detailed treatment of the subject elsewhere (Grinnell, 1914). Suffice it here to state that of all the associations above named as occurring in Death Valley the mesquite association is most prolific of bird life. The mesquite harbors an abun- dance of insects, its foliage is edible for some birds as are also 'the mesquite beans, and it affords shade and protective cover ■* — West ^ c -a s -a • i o 2 « X u 5 • JC s X ? ^ i- 1 •I E o w c if -s m y^ Sea Level J^ -'7v-^ -, - ■ '—^ . jMoko^ ^^ j^^ijkASiii 'T--^ ^Jl^k^i>^.^^*'"^ W-'" ' ^ :^ v/V*"V-r- ■/- •'^:V ■■-' ^::; '!'>:•/ Ideal sectional profile of Death Valley in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch to show biotic associations. to a better degree than any other native plant of the region. Several of the associations named are, on the other hand, very lean as to bird constituents; in fact, in terms of experience in more attractive regions, some of them are sterile, save for vagrant birds which happen in only at long intervals. At migration time, when birds of many kinds are traversing Death Valley in numbers, it is interesting to note how the indi- viduals will "find themselves"associationally as nearly as exist- ing conditions will permit. Associational choice is exercised just so far as is possible. For example, we find occasional Pipits on the sparse salt-grass patches, though no moisture may be in evidence on the surface of the ground. Savannah Spar- rows and Marsh Wrens will be flushed from the pickle-weed, and tules. Black-throated and Nevada Sage Sparrows will be found on the wash-fans among the desert holly (A triplex hymenelytra) . While the mesquites will harbor a variety of 48 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. foliage feeders, such as the warblers, vireos, kinglets, and spizelline sparrows. As to Furnace Creek Ranch itself, which comprises about sixty acres, all the acreage which can be kept productive with the amount of water available (some forty miner's inches), we find brought in by irrigation and cultivation a wide variety of non-native associational conditions. The chief of these are: small fugitive fresh-water ponds, running ditches with willows and other riparian growths, lush alfalfa and grain fields, Bermuda grass lawns, hedges of different plants, large cotton- wood trees both living and dead, and some tall Washington palms. A considerable number of migrant and winter visitant birds tarry here and come to notice which would probably otherwise pass by overhead without ever alighting in Death Valley. The ranch, sixty acres of vivid green, is located on the lower reaches of the debris fan which spreads out into the Valley from the mouth of Furnace Creek Wash. It is surrounded by vast desert of extreme type and offers in contrast a parallel to an island surrounded by the sea. For birds which affect green trees, rank grass and wet earth. Furnace Creek Ranch must serve as a beacon, visible and alluring from miles of passage- way on either hand. Indeed, the ranch might well be likened to the famous Heligoland of the North Sea as a station from which to observe migration. Could it be made the base for continuous observation of birds throughout the entire year, and for a series of years, I venture to predict that quite as startling and significant findings would result as marked the work of Gatke on the island of Heligoland. As is well known, migration comes to human attention chiefly through notice of the birds which stop over on the way ; we do not ordinarily see the birds in actual passage. Death Valley is a north-and-south trough between high mountain ranges, the Amargosa Range on the east, 4000 to 7000 feet high, and the Panamint Range to the west, 5000 to 11,000 feet high. The Valley forms a natural channel for through migration. Thus Furnace Creek Ranch is a natural lodestone, pulling to itself from the migrant stream individuals or flocks now and then, day or night, and these may loiter a few minutes or a few hours, or even a few days, before resuming their Vol. XIII] GRINNELL— BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 49 journey. Again and again I had the experience of seeing a band of swallows, which migrate by day and not far above the ground, arrive from the south, wheel about a few times over the alfalfa, and then make off northwards. All the water birds (ducks, snipe, etc.) which I saw coming to, or leaving, Furnace Creek Ranch in April pursued a course of migration up the Valley, paralleling its axis. This oasis is • seemingly right in line with a migration route, which owes its location to circumstances in the general topographic con- figuration of the Inyo region. As regards ducks, and water-birds in general, any little "bit of open water constitutes a strong attraction to them. The irri- gation ditches on the ranch, the grain and alfalfa fields when flooded, and the overflow or waste ditches which extend inter- mittently from the ranch down to, and even out onto, the "borax" flat, all serve to attract and hold for a time such mi- grants or vagrants as come within range of vision. From time immemorial the Indians have been in the habit of con- structing artificial ponds with blinds close by from which to pot-shoot the birds. I was told that, until within a few years, the killing was done with bows and arrows. But now the Indians are all well provided with modern shot-guns. Even so, the Indians are not inclined to indulge in wing-shooting; in fact, I saw no instance of this. They prefer to do much stalking and patient waiting until several birds can be lined up on the water, sitting, and secured at one shot. There are several ditches draining the Ranch on the west, and along each of these, in the midst of mesquite and arrow- weed tracts, a little appropriate banking of the earth is done, and small ponds result in short order, in the course of whichever overflow ditch happens to be carrying the water. Often the brush is partially cleared so as to leave sight-ways from the places of concealment out to bits of open water. The "reser- voir" at Furnace Creek Ranch, so frequently referred to in Fisher's Death Valley report of 1893, is not now in existence, nor has it been for many years. Mr. Denton told me that there are many more ducks in evidence during the southward migration, in July and August, than when they are going north, in spring. There are then literally "thousands." The Indians are often able to get a 50 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. "dozen at a shot" in the flooded alfalfa or on their shooting ponds. It is perhaps needless to point out, but of course essential to keep in mind, that the floor of Death Valley is within the Lower Sonoran Life Zone. Furthermore, it is within the most arid division of that zone, namely, the Colorado Desert sub-faunal area, this diagnosis being based chiefly on the plants. It is, however, a detached portion of that sub-faunal area, being entirely surrounded by the Mohave Desert sub-faunal area. The yearly average rainfall according to the records kept at Furnace Creek Ranch is but half an inch. The lowest winter temperature recorded in a five-year yeriod (1912-1917) was 24° F; the highest summer temperature, 134°. Death Valley offers a rare problem in distribution in that it suggests, zonally, a desert mountain range inverted. A low zone (in the bottom of the trough) is surrounded by a higher zone, instead of the reverse. While the bottom of Death Valley is below sea-level, the lowest place in the territory sur- rounding it is at an altitude of at least 2500 feet (as far as maps at hand indicate). In other words, it is at the bottom of a basin the lowest point in whose rim is at least 2500 feet above sea-level. Even though Death Valley possesses many features seem- ingly attractive to bird-life of low Lower Sonoran, such, for instance, as fine tracts of mesquites, it lacks species of birds which are characteristic of the same sorts of places on the Colorado Desert; for example, the Abert Towhee, Lucy Warbler, Verdin, Plumbeous Gnatcatcher, and Crissal Thrasher. I believe these species could exist in Death Valley and would be there if they could have gotten there through the normal processes of gradual invasion. But the "Middle" Sonoran barrier has kept them out. Establishment in a new locality by the agency of vagrants is a relatively rare phenomenon. If oscillations in general temperature conditions in recently past time, geologically speaking, had operated so as to elevate the life zones, and had thus permitted an extension of low Lower Sonoran (Colorado Desert sub-faunal division) con- tinuously ;ior^/jwards over the intervening divides, ivith subse- quent zonal lozvering, then a representation of that sub-fauna Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY ^l would have been left stranded in Death Valley, just as northern types have been left stranded on southern mountain tops with the rising of the life-zones. But I know of no good evidence to show that there has been any lowering of life zones in this region within or since Pleistocene times ; there has been only a gradual rising of them. The trough of Death Valley has re- ceived into its avifauna only the hardier Lower Sonoran spe- cies, like the Leconte Thrasher and Road-runner, which have a wide vertical range anyway. It is believed that the best way of conveying definite inform- ation as to the relative abundance of species is by citing actual censuses. The following selections are therefore put on record here. They are all from my own notebook, each entry there being based on a pencil-checked memorandum covering a given period of time over a stated route. West base of Black Mountains at lowest point in Death Valley (about —280 feet), close to "bad water" of U.S.G.S. map; rocky gorges, cliffs, desert holly wash-fans, and sparse pickle-weed at edge of "borax" flat; April 21, 1920, 3:00 to 5 :30 p.m. ; day quiet and pleasantly warm. Prairie Falcon 1, Say Phoebe 1. Western Raven 2, Black-throated Sparrow 1, Rock Wren 1. Total, 5 species, 6 individuals, in 2>4 hours of close search over a two-mile strip paralleling the "sump". Vicinity of Black Point, near B.M. — 223, six miles south of Furnace Creek Ranch, and up adjacent canyons in the West base of the Black jMountains to sea-level ; associations, salt grass at edge of "borax" flat, desert holly wash-fan, and rocky gorge; April 11, 1920, 9:00 to 11 :30 a.m. ; the day quiet and very warm. Say Phoebe 1, Horned Lark 1, Western Raven 1, California Linnet 6, Rock Wren 1. Total, 5 species, 10 in- dividuals, in 23/2 hours. Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, and within radius of one mile; association chiefly sparse mesquite and desert holly; April 17, 1917, 5:15 to 7:30 a.m.; the day cool, east wind. Sharp- shinned Hav\'k 1, Sparrow Hawk 1, Costa Hummingbird 1, Say Phoebe 4, Western Raven 1, California Linnet 6, Brewer Sparrow 10. Total, 7 species, 24 individuals, in 2% hours. Salt Creek, — 200 feet, mostly on or close to the marshy ground (salt grass, pickle-weed, cane), but partly in mesquite thickets; April 14, 1917, 5 :00 to 9:00 a.m.; the day pleasant; 52 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. number of miles covered all told, not over four. Wilson Snipe 1, Western Raven 2, Brewer Blackbird 1, California Linnet 15+, Savannah Sparrow 6, Intermediate White-crowned Spar- row 10±, Brewer Sparrow 6, Audubon Warbler 4, American Pipit 4, Western Mockingbird 1, Western Marsh Wren 2. Total, 1 1 species, 52 individuals, in 4 hours. West of Furnace Creek Ranch, — 178 down to — 250 feet, altogether off the ranch, chiefly in mesquite association ; April 3, 1917, 7:30 to 10:00 a.m.; the day quiet, warm; number of miles covered, close to five. Turkey Vulture 4, Sparrow Hawk 1, Say Phoebe 4, Western Raven 1, Western Meadowlark 1, California Linnet 2, Intermediate White-crowned Sparrow 1, Brewer Sparrow 6, American Pipit 1, Leconte Thrasher 1. Total, 10 species, 22 individuals, in 2^ hours. North and west of Furnace Creek Ranch, — 178 down to — 250 feet, altogether off the Ranch but within two-mile radius of it ; chiefly in mesquite and arrowweed associations along overflow streamlets; April 26, 1917, 7:40 to 9:40 a.m.; day quiet and warm. American Bittern 1, Killdeer 3, Mourning Dove 1, Turkey Vulture 1, Western Kingbird 3, Ash-throated Flycatcher 1, Say Phoebe 1, Gray Flycatcher 2, Western Raven 1, Bullock Oriole 1, Brewer Blackbird 2, California Linnet 1, Green-backed Goldfinch 2, Intemiediate White-crowned Spar- row 4, Brewer Sparrow llOzh, Western Chipping Sparrow 4, Rough-winged Swallow 3, Audubon Warbler 8, Leconte Thrasher 2, unknown 3. Total, 19 species, 154 individuals, in 2 hours (but 110 of these were of one species). South of Furnace Creek Ranch within three-mile radius, about — 200 feet up to near sea-level, altogether off the Ranch ; associations mostly mesquite, sand-dune, creosote, desert holly, and rocky gorge; April 7, 1920, 6:30 to 10:45 a.m.; the day quiet and pleasantly warm. California Linnet 4, Western Chipping Sparrow 1, Brewer Sparrow 6, Desert Black-throated Sparrow 2, White-rumped Shrike 1, Audubon Warbler 4, Sage Thrasher 7, Leconte Thrasher 5, Rock Wren 4, Western Robin 1. Total, 10 species, 35 individuals, in 4% hours (on the desert entirely away from the influence of the Ranch). Furnace Creek Ranch proper, and also tracts of mesquite and arrowweed immediately to the west, — 178 down to — 200 feet ; April 16, 1920, 6 :00 to 9 :00 a.m. ; the day partly cloudy, Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 53 comfortably cool, variable winds. Wilson Snipe 3, Desert Quail 1, Mourning Dove 6, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Red- shafted Flicker 2, White-throated Swift 2, Gray Flycatcher 2, Vermilion Flycatcher 2, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Western Meadowlark 12, Bullock Oriole 2, Green-backed Goldfinch 2, Savannah Sparrow (subsp. ?) 8, Western Lark Sparrow 2, English Sparrow 16±, Intermediate White-crowned Sparrow 10, Western Chipping Sparrow 4, Brewer Sparrow 44±, Lincoln Sparrow 4, Barn Swallow 2, Tree Swallow 3, Rough- winged Swallow 3, Audubon Warbler 25 ±:, Western Yellow- throat 1, American Pipit 2, Western Mockingbird 1, Leconte Thrasher 2, Western Marsh Wren 1 , Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Vi'estern Gnatcatcher 3, Western Robin 6. Total, 31 species, 176 individuals, in 3 hours. Furnace Creek Ranch, — 178 feet, entirely within the outer fences bounding the ranch; April 23, 1917, 6:30 to 8:30 a.m.; the day warm, light south wind ; approximate number of miles covered in walking, four. Mourning Dove 2, Costa Humming- bird 1, Western Kingbird 3, Western Raven 1, Yellow-headed Blackbird 12, Red-winged Blackbird 12db, Western Meadow- lark 12, Bullock Oriole 6, California Linnet 3, Green-backed Goldfinch 5, Western Vesper Sparrow 6, Savannah Sparrow (both subsp.) 17±, Western Lark Sparrow 1, English Spar- row 16±, Intermediate White-crowned Sparrow 4, Brewer Sparrow 4, Violet-green Swallow 18±, Rough-winged Swal- low 2, Cassin Vireo 1, Audubon Warbler 2, American Pipit 2, Western House Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Western Robin 4. Total, 24 species, 136 individuals, checked in two hours ; this is 2 per acre, on the ranch. Furnace Creek Ranch and the tracts of mesquite and arrow- weed to the west almost down to the "borax" flat, — 175 down to —200 feet ; April 19, 1920, 6 :00 to 9 :00 a.m. ; the day clear, quiet, and pleasantly warm. Cinnamon Teal 6, Mud-hen 1, Wilson Snipe 5, Killdeer 4, Desert Quail 1, Mourning Dove 3, Cooper Hawk 2, Swainson Hawk 6, Prairie Falcon 1, Red- shafted Flicker 2, Texas Nighthawk 2, White-throated Swift 9+, Western Kingbird 1, Western Raven 4, Red-winged Blackbird 24±, Western Meadowlark 10+, Bullock Oriole 6, Brewer Blackbird 2, California Linnet 2, Green-backed Gold- finch 1, Savannah Sparrow (subsp.?) 2, English Sparrow 54 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 12+, Intermediate White-crowned Sparrow 7+, Western Chipping Sparrow 2, Brewer Sparrow 25 ±, Lincoln Sparrow 1, Roug-h-winged Swallow 1, Audubon Warbler 17 ±, Ameri- can Pipit 50±, Leconte Thrasher 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, Western Gnatcatcher 2, Western Robin \7±. Total, 33 species, 232 individuals, in 3 hours, covering about five miles of route and an area of about one square mile; the biggest census obtained in Death Valley (weather conditions excellent and migrants numerous). 1. Colymbus nigricollis californicus (Heermann). American Eared Grebe. But one record : A specimen taken in 1891 "on the reser- voir at Furnace Creek" Ranch, either April 11 (Fisher, 1893, p. 13) or April 10 (loc. cit, p. 150). 2. PodUymbus podiceps (Linnaeus). Pied-billed Grebe. Presence ascertained twice, on April 7 and April 25, 1917. On the first date an Indian who was irrigating the alfalfa on Furnace Creek Ranch picked up two from a ditch where the birds were unable to escape by diving nor yet seemed able to get under way in flight. The two proved to be of opposite sex, and were thought to have arrived during the preceding night — a mated pair, perhaps, migrating together. On the second date a female was shot from a duck pond in the arrowweeds below the ranch. Three specimens preserved, nos. 27802, $ , 27803, 2 , 28867, 9 ; weights, respectively, 452.5, 373.0, and 304.5 grams; not fat. 3. Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus. Mallard, One record: Adult male taken at an irrigating ditch on Furnace Creek Ranch, January 23, 1891 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 15. 150). 4. Mareca americana (Gmelin). Baldpate. At daybreak on April 5, 1917, a flock of twelve was dis- covered "puddling" in a flooded alfalfa patch on Furnace Creek Ranch. Five were shot and two of these preserved : Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 55 Nos. 27804, S , 27805, S ; weights, 641 and 656 grams, re- spectively; not especially fat. A female seen flying overhead on April 20, 1920. In 1891, secured at Furnace Creek Ranch on April 8 and "in January" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 16, 150). 5. Nettion carolinense (Gmelin). Green-winged Teal. One lone individual flushed from overflow ditch just below Furnace Creek Ranch, April 28, 1917; shot, and preserved: No. 27806, $ ; weight 355.5 grams. Two seen at the ranch by Mr. Dane Coolidge late in De- cember, 1919. Found January 23 to February 4, 1891, at Furnace Creek Ranch, where small flocks were to be seen either on the reser- voir or in the irrigating ditches (Fisher, 1893, pp. 16, 150). 6. Querquedula cyanoptera (Vieillot). Cinnamon Teal. The most frequent duck in Death Valley during the spring months; likely to put in an appearance at any little pond or ditch. In 1891, flocks were seen at Furnace Creek Ranch in March, and a non-breeding female was secured on the reservoir there, June 19 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 17, 150). In 1917, noted at Furnace Creek Ranch as follows: April 5, seven at daybreak in flooded alfalfa field, and later a com- pany of ten seen; April 24, three on Indian-made pond in ar- rowweeds below the ranch ; April 28, one in same place ; April 29, three flushed from irrigation ditch. In 1920: April 6, flock of about fifteen at artificial pond below the ranch ; April 10, one lone male flushed from ditch; April 13, ten flushed from shallow overflow surrounded by arrowweed; April 16, four on flooded grain-field; April 19, two bunches of four, on a little pond, and on overflow from drainage ditch down in the mesquites ; April 20, three on overflow ditch. The ducks appeared to arrive mostly, if not altogether, at night, and seemed loath to leave the vicinity during the day- time. The Indians were accustomed to stalk them from place to place, so that sometimes all or most of a company present early in the morning had been shot by night. Needless to say, 55 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES' [Proc. 4th Ser. game laws and game law enforcement are so far unknown in this remote section of the country. At Eagle Borax Works, on May 5, 1917, Mr. Dixon saw some Cinnamon Teal feeding on a pond at the lower edge of the marsh; and on May 17, the same year, he flushed a pair there. Specimens were taken, all at Furnace Creek Ranch, as fol- lows: No. 27810, S, April 27, weight 301.3 grams; no. 27808, S , April 24, 290.0 grams; no. 27807, $ , April 5, 320 grams (gullet full of earthworms) ; no. 27809, $ , April 24, 305.7 grams; no. 40526, $ , April 13, 400 grams. The first four were secured in 1917, the last one in 1920. 7. Spatula clypeata (Linnseus). Shoveller. In 1917 one was seen on Furnace Creek Ranch in irrigated alfalfa at daybreak of April 5. A Shoveller was killed by Mr. Denton on the ranch the last of December, 1919. In 1891, a flock of four was seen on the reservoir at Fur- nace Creek Ranch "the latter part of January" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 17, 150). 8. Dafila acuta (Linnseus). Pintail. On May 3, 1917, on Furnace Creek Ranch, three females and one male were reported seen, and a pair which had been shot by some one was examined by Mr. Dixon. 9. Marila affinis (Eyton). Lesser Scaup Duck. Mr. Dane Coolidge reports seeing seven "blue-bills" in a flock on Furnace Creek Ranch December 29, 1919. One of these was shot by Mr. Denton. 10. Erismatura jamaicensis (Gmelin). Ruddy Duck. Three examples were secured on the reservoir at Furnace Creek Ranch, March 22, 1891 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 18, 150). 11. Anser albifrons albifrons (Scopoli). White-fronted Goose. One individual remained several days in the alfalfa field at Furnace Creek Ranch during the latter part of March, 1891 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 18, 150). Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 57 12. Branta canadensis ( Linnaeus). Canada Goose. One killed at Furnace Creek Ranch by an Indian December 24, 1919. Another seen by Mr. Dane Coolidge to alight in a field on the ranch December 29 the same year. Four Canada Geese were seen for several days in the latter part of March, 1891, about the alfalfa field at Furnace Creek Ranch (Fisher, j893, pp. 19, 150). Subspecies not determined in any of these cases. 13. Plegadis guarauna (Linnaeus). White-faced Glossy Ibis. A single one was secured by Mr. Dixon in the marsh at Eagle Borax Works, —260 feet altitude, May 17, 1917. It had been shot through the bill at some fairly recent time and this may be the reason for its having remained behind its migrating fellows. The specimen was preserved : No. 27812, 9 ; weight 386 grams. Mr. Denton reported that a flock of about one hundred stopped at Furnace Creek Ranch on May 7, 1917. The remains of a specimen killed at Furnace Creek Ranch in 1891 were examined by Dr. A. K. Fisher (1893, pp. 19, 150). 14. Botaurus lentiginosus (Montagu). American Bittern. On April 26, 1917, one was flushed from an arrow weed thicket bordering an overflow ditch down towards the flat from Furnace Creek Ranch. It was shot: No. 27813, 2 ; weight 475 grams. On April 30 the same year a Bittern was routed out from beneath a mesquite near the overflow stream due west of the ranch, close to the edge of the "borax" flat, — 250 feet altitude. On April 15, 1920, one was captured by an Indian in an irrigation ditch on the ranch. 15. Ardea herodias treganzai Court. Pallid Great Blue Heron. At Furnace Creek Ranch, April 25, 1917, one was seen at 5 a.m. flying overhead croaking hoarsely. It finally settled at a pond in the arro\\'^^eeds, but on alarm flew off north. On April 28 the same year one was flushed from a pond at the ranch. 58 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 16. Nycticorax nycticorax nasvius (Boddaert). Black-crowned Night Heron. On April 19 and 20, 1917, at least two individuals appeared along the main ditch at Furnace Creek Ranch. One was shot on April 20: No. 27814, $ ; weight, 580 grams. An imma- ture individual was shot at Furnace Creek Ranch June 19, 1891 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 20, 150). 17. Porzana Carolina (Linnaeus). Sora Rail. On May 17, 1917, one was flushed by Mr. Dixon from the marsh at the Eagle Borax Works, — 260 feet altitude. It was blown violently to the ground by the wind, where it was shot : No. 27816, 9 ; weight 48 grams. 18. Fulica americana Gmelin. Mud-hen. On April 4, 1917, and for a week previously according to report, one was seen in the immediate ranch yard at Furnace Creek Ranch, where it commingled with the chickens. In April, 1920 (from the 14th to the 19th), a lone Coot was seen repeatedly along the ditches on the ranch. When pursued it proved expert in hiding in the lush alfalfa of the adjacent fields. 19. Steganopus tricolor Vieillot. Wilson Phalarope. One record : an adult male shot "near the overflow of a ditch in the alfalfa field" at Furnace Creek Ranch, June 19, 1891 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 22, 150). 20. Recurvirostra americana Gmelin. American Avocet. On April 20, 1920, two in high plumage were met with on the main overflow ditch to the west of Furnace Creek Ranch down towards the "borax" flat. One collected : No. 40527, $ ; weight, 383 grams; bill and claws black; feet and legs pearl blue; iris deep hazel. 21. Gallinago delicata (Ord). Wilson Snipe. Present on Furnace Creek Ranch at frequent intervals during the month of April in both 1917 and 1920. From one Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 59 to twelve would be encountered in a morning's ransacking of all appropriate places about the ranch. The snipe evidently ar- rived during the night, and were loath to leave the ranch during the daytime, even when followed about and flushed over and over again. Some days none at all could be found. Sure signs of their presence were the probe-holes in the soft wet bottoms of irrigation ditches from which the water had just been turned onto the alfalfa. Such ditches would seem to have been sought by the birds with remarkable directness. Not only the irrigation ditches on the ranch proper were favorable for snipe, but also the edges of the overflow ditches to the west of, and below, the ranch. Here, instead of alfalfa, the vegetation consisted of arrowweed, mesquite, and some Bermuda grass and salt-grass. In 1917, Wilson Snipe were observed around Furnace Creek Ranch from April 3 (two) to April 29 (one), the greatest number ("about 12") on April 5; in 1920 from April 4 (one) to April 20 (four), the greatest number (eight) on April 9. One specimen taken: No. 40528, 9 , April 5, 1920; weight, 111.9 grams. In 1891, one was seen on the ranch April 11 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 22, 150). Mr. Dane Coolidge found one on the ranch December 30, 1919, which indicates wintering of the species in Death Valley. On April 14, 1917, I flushed one from the pickle-weed bordering Salt Creek, — 200 feet altitude. 22. Tringa solitaria cinnamomea (Brewster). Western Solitary Sandpiper. One met with by me on Furnace Creek Ranch, April 20, 1920; first flushed from an overflow pool down in mesquites, but later seen to alight in a flooded grain field, whence secured : No. 40529, $ ; weight, 50 grams; feet and legs grape green; bill at base the same, becoming black on tenninal half; iris bister; wing, 131.8 mm.; culmen, 29.0; tarsus, 32.3. This specimen is not, in the characters of coloration given by Ridgway (1919, p. 363), very emphatically cinnamomea; in measurements, however, it is nearer that race than solitaria, on the basis of Ridgway's averages. (^ CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Pkoc. 4th Ser. 23. Oxyechus vociferus vociferus (Linnaeus). North American Killdeer. Noted almost daily on Furnace Creek Ranch. In 1917 seen from April 5 (six in early morning) to April 29 (two) ; in 1920 from April 4 (two) to April 20 (four). Never more than six noted on the ranch at one time, usually but two or only one. Showed preference for newly-planted fields, or newly-mown ones, where, when flooded, the water was shallow and open. Also frequented the edges of the overflows down clear to the borax flat, — 250 feet altitude, west of the ranch. On April 10, 1920, for instance, two Killdeer were foraging there, on the very floor of Death Valley, with the glaring white alkali on all sides. One specimen taken: No. 27830, S , April 5, 1917; weight, 85.5 grams. No evidence of nesting observed by me. Heard at Salt Creek, —200 feet, April 14, 1917, and April 3, 1920; that is, heard during the nights preceding the days of these dates. In 1891, found at Furnace Creek Ranch "in the latter part of January," "about the middle of April," and "June 19-22"; "not uncommon"; "breeds" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 24, 150). 24. Lophortyx gambelii gambelii Gambel. Desert Quail. Seen only in the near vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch. There were probably close to a dozen pairs there in April, 1917; but three years later I found evidence of the presence of no more than three pairs. Mr. Denton believed there had been as many as seventy-five around the ranch in the fall of some years. He further thought that the shotgun was the chief factor against the quail. However, the fact the Desert Quail are not native in Death Valley may point towards the existence of some natural condition there unfavorable to them. One specimen taken: No. 27845, S, April 22, 1917; weight, 161.8 grams; crop filled with a mixture of green mesquite-blossom buds and foeces of Ammospermophilus. I am unable to find any significant differences between this ex- ample and other specimens of similar season from the Colorado Desert. Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY ^l In 1891, "common" at Furnace Creek Ranch. "... Re- ported to have been introduced by the Borax Company from Resting Springs", in the Amargosa Valley (Fisher, 1893, pp. 29, 150). 25. Zenaidura macroura marginella (Woodhouse). Western Mourning Dove. Mr. Denton says doves are abundant all summer on Furnace Creek Ranch, departing early in the fall. In 1917 the first seen by Mr. Dixon and myself, one pair, were noted on April 10; in 1920 the first seen, a lone bird, was noted by me on April 4. In each year, after their first appearance, doves were seen almost daily. In the usual two- or three-hour census on and about the ranch, from two to four doves would be checked. The greatest number for one day was twelve in one flock, and fully a dozen others seen singly or in pairs, on April 29, 1917. A gradual increase in numbers through April is indicated by the censuses. On May 4, 1917, doves were thought to be more plentiful than previously that year, though no actual count was made. Doves were seen to arrive at the ranch from the south, and it is probable that some of the population was continually shift- ing. While some doubtless nested in the near vicinity of Death Valley, we found no definite evidence of their doing so in the below-sea-level area. The doves resorted to the ditch sides and overflow ponds to drink, to the dry weedy margins of fields and the stubble to feed, and to the lower branches of the green-crowned cotton- woods to "coo." Two specimens taken: No. 27847, $, April 10, 1917, weight 121 grams; no. 27848, 9 , April 25, 1917, weight 105.1 grams. In 1891, a single individual was found at Furnace Creek Ranch "the latter part of January". Migrants first observed at this point April 9-12, and four seen here June 19-21 (Fisher, 1893,pp. 33, 150). ^2 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 26. Cathartes aura septentrionalis Wied. North American Turkey Vulture. Of frequent note around Furnace Creek Ranch during April. In 1917, seen from April 3 to 26, inclusive; in 1920 from April 4 to 17. The most observed in one census was 6 in three hours, on April 11, 1917; the recent deposit of a dead calf on the "dump" out on the desert south of the ranch ac- counted for this assemblage. Usually but one or two would be seen in a day, in overhead flight. On the evening of April 15, 1920, during a gale, a buzzard took refuge in a cottonwood on the ranch, perching low in the tree. In 1891, several w^ere seen at Furnace Creek Ranch on April 11, and some were seen there June 19-21 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 34, 150). 27. Circus hudsonius (Linnaeus). Marsh Hawk. Seen at Furnace Creek Ranch April 3 and 9, 1917, one indi- vidual on each date. The one on the first occasion was secured : No. 27849, $ adult; weight, 371 grams; fat. This bird was shot by Mr. Dixon when it was trying to catch a Desert Quail. Repeated short swoops were made at the quail, which had sought refuge in a mesquite bush. Mr. Dixon had no doubt but that the latter would have been caught, had it not been for the protection afforded by the bush. The stomach of the hawk contained only a little mouse fur. On April 3, 1920, at Salt Creek, —200 feet, a Marsh Hawk flew by, going north. In 1891, an "adult male was secured at Furnace Creek" Ranch, January 29 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 35, 150). 28. Accipiter velox (Wilson). Sharp-shinned Hawk. Noted at Furnace Creek Ranch April 7 and 20, 1917, and April 4 and 16, 1920; one bird in each case. Two shot, on the first two stated dates: No. 27850, ? adult, weight 177 grams, unidentified feathers in stomach; no. 27851, $ adult, weight 106.5 grams, gullet contained finely cut-up remains of Brewer Sparrow. Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 53 Noted at Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, April 15 and 17, 1917, one bird each time. These hawks are prone to hang about springs in desert regions, where, of course, they find easy picking among the small birds that must come to drink. In 1891, two were seen at Furnace Creek Ranch "in the latter part of January" and one at Bennett Wells at "about the same time" ; also two were seen at Furnace Creek Ranch, April 11 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 35, 150). 29. Accipiter cooperii (Bonaparte). Cooper Hawk. Observed at Furnace Creek Ranch April 10, 22 and 30, 1917, and April 18, 19 and 20, 1920; one bird in each case except on the 19th, Vv^hen what were believed to be three different individuals were checked during a three-hour morning's census. Nearly all of these hawks were seen in or near the lines of large mesquites within a mile west of the ranch proper. Two specimens taken : No. 27854, 9 adult, April 10, 1917; weight 45 1 grams ; gullet contained finely cut-up remains of a Desert Antelope Ground Squirrel ( Ammospermophilns lencii- riis leucurus) ; most of bones and skin excluded, though both hnid feet were present entire. No. 40531, 2 adult, April 19, 1920; weight 460 grams, net; crop contents weighed 64.3 grams ; this consisted of a Desert Wood Rat (Neotoma inter- media desertonim) — mostly carefully picked pieces of clean meat, but also the tail entire, both hind feet, one testicle, and the skin of the head inside-out. Neither of these hawks showed evidences of near approach of the breeding season; probably transients. In 1891, "one or two" were seen at Furnace Creek Ranch in the latter part of January (Fisher, 1893, pp. 36, 150). 30. Buteo borealis calurus Cassin. Western Red-tailed Hawk. In 1891, one was seen at Bennett Wells on June 21, and between Bennett Wells and Saratoga Springs several were observed about the first of February; also seen at Furnace Creek Ranch in January (Fisher, 1893, pp. 37, 150). Not observed anywhere below sea level in 1917 or 1920, though noted in nearby localities. ^ CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 31. Buteo swainsoni Bonaparte. Swainson Hawk. Noted only in the neig-hborhood af Furnace Creek Ranch. One shot on May 3, 1917 : No. 27860, S ; weight, 700 grams. On April 18, 1920, one appeared over the ranch at 7 a.m., tacking back and forth against the howling north gale. The next day, the wind having ceased, six different individuals were checked in a three-hour forenoon's circuit over the terri- tory within two miles west and south of the ranch. Most of these birds were circling or in flight towards the northwest; one was perched on a low mesquite stub near the edge of the borax flat, about — 250 feet. 32. Falco mexicanus Schlegel. Prairie Falcon. At Furnace Creek Ranch on April 19, 1920, one was seen to dash down into a grain field and secure in its talons a Meadowlark, making off with it at a level height of 25 feet or so. As it flew I saw it reach down with its bill and pick at the bird in its claws, at the same time appearing to shift its hold on the bird, which was seen to struggle slightly. On the east side of "bad water" (of the map), about — 280 feet, on April 21, 1920, a Prairie Falcon flew close by me along the precipitous face of the mountain. In 1891 one was seen January 22 between Bennett Wells and Furnace Creek Ranch; "at the latter place one was shot from its perch on a haystack" January 27. Also one was seen at Furnace Creek Ranch on June 20 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 39, 150). 33. Falco columbarius Linnaeus. Pigeon Hawk. One record : the remains of one were found near the reser- voir at Furnace Creek Ranch, June 21, 1891 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 40, 150). A primary and two rectrices from the remains are preserved in the Biological Survey collection and have been examined by me. 34. Falco sparverius sparverius Linnaeus. American Sparrow Hawk. Seen frequently on or near Furnace Creek Ranch, one or two in a day. A favorite perch was the highest point on the Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 55 hay derrick. Noted April 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 21, 22 and 29, 1917, and April 10, 11 and 20, 1920. Five specimens taken: Nos. 27862-65, 40532, all females ; weights, 115.5, 106.5, 94.7, 86.0, 82.5 grams, respectively. These skins do not seem to differ in any tangible way from skins of corresponding season taken in \\'est-central California; likely transients in the Death Valley legion. Observed on Mesquite Flat in the vicinity of Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, April 15, 16 and 17, 1917, six individual birds all told. On the 16th two Sparrow Hawks were met with, perching on small rocks far out on the level floor of the Flat, nearby to the sand-dunes ; they were absolutely the only birds seen during an hour's tramp over that sort of ground. In 1891, seen at Mesquite Well January 21, at Bennett Wells on the same date and again about the middle of April, at Furnace Creek Ranch March 22, and in Mesquite Valley [Flat] April 12 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 40, 151). 35. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (Gmelin). American Osprey, At Furnace Creek Ranch on April 28, 1917, one perched for a time about sundown on the masthead of the hoist at the haystack. It was poising against the north gale, and kept calling in characteristic fashion. In 1891, a single individual was seen at Furnace Creek Ranch "just before dark on April 10." Also the remains of one were noted nailed upon the side of the house at the ranch, where it had been killed a year or so previously (Fisher, 1893, pp.41, 151). 36. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea (Bonaparte). North American Burrowing Owl. On April 13, 1917, a pair was found about five miles north of Furnace Creek Ranch, close to B. M. — 253. Their burrow (probably belonging originally to a Desert Kangaroo Rat) was at the edge of a wash where hard ground met the alkali. When alarmed, one owl flew far away over the desert and the other disappeared down the burrow, both thus playing safe. ^ CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Some pellets from the mound at the mouth of the burrow showed insect remains. In 1891, a pair of Burrowing Owls was seen at Bennett Wells on June 21 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 44, 151). 37. Geococcyx californianus (Lesson). Road-runner. One was heard "singing" near Furnace Creek Ranch on April 4, 1917; and on the 6th, tracks were seen in the sand among the mesquites southwest of the ranch. On April 18, 1917, similar evidence was noted near Triangle Spring, — 13 feet. In 1891, numerous tracks were seen around the mesquite and other thick growths at Furnace Creek Ranch in both Jan- uary and June (Fisher, 1893, pp. 45, 151). 38. Coccyzus americanus occidentalis Ridgway. California Cuckoo, One record: on June 20, 1891, a single individual was seen about sunrise at Furnace Creek Ranch among the willows at the edge of the reservoir; later in the day it was secured, proving to be an adult female (Fisher, 1893, pp. 45, 151), This specimen is No. 142325, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. 39. Ceryle alcyon caurina Grinnell. Northwestern Belted Kingfisher. Transient. Observed along the main ditch on Furnace Creek Ranch, April 4, 7, 9, 20 and 21, 1917. One shot at day- break of the 7th from a dead cottonwood : No. 27890, S ; weight 150 grams. This specimen is not good caurina, as represented on the southeastern coast of Alaska, In fact, it is not separable from some examples of alcyon at hand, and it is placed with caurina only on geographical grounds. In 1891, one was reported at Furnace Creek Ranch, flying about the reservoir there, April 15 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 46, 151), Vol. XIII] GRIXNELL— BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 57 40. Colaptes auratus luteus Bangs. Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker. On Furnace Creek Ranch, April 12, 1917, a plainly yellow "shafted" Flicker was seen coming- in undulating flight across the alfalfa fields, and presently it lit on a fence post within shotgun range of me and was secured : No. 27901, S ; weight, 119.2 grams; wing, 157.8 mm.; tail, 102.7; tarsus, 28.2; cul- men, 32.1. This specimen is, in coloration, pure auratus in every respect — not a trace of cafer "blood". As to size, it falls with the average of dimensions of luteus, as given by Ridgway (1914, p. 18), certainly not with horealis. Borealis has been ascribed to California; but actual specimens of good auratus have not been critically compared hitherto by the present writer. It may be that all are luteus. At any rate, the present Death Valley example must be considered luteus, and on this definite basis this subspecies is to be ascribed to California. 41. Colaptes cafer collaris Vigors. Red-shafted Flicker. In 1917 relatively scarce on Furnace Creek Ranch. Either one or two birds, only, noted on April 6, 9, 10, 1 1 and 28. But in 1920 noted almost daily from April 4 to April 19, two indi- viduals on the first and last dates and up to six present in one day on intermediate dates. The Flickers adhered pretty closely to the ranch domain, where they would be seen in or near the cottonwoods and willows along the ditches, or on the posts of the fences between the fields. One specimen taken : No. 27902, 9 ; April 28, 1917; weight, 132.7 grams. In December, 1919, Mr, Dane Coolidge found a Flicker sleeping regularly in one of the fan palms at the ranch, and it was also seen several times about the woodpiles where it was thought to be feeding upon the grubs in the mesquite logs. In 1891, one individual was seen among the willows and mesquites at Furnace Creek Ranch on April 10 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 51, 151). ^ CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 42. Phalaenoptilus nuttallii nuttallii (Audubon). Nuttall Poor-will. Noted on Furnace Creek Ranch in 1917 on April 3, 4, 11 and 22; in 1920 on April 7 and 11. Appeared at late dusk flying low over alfalfa or alighting on bare ground around the "weevily" woodpile. Not more than one observed on any one evening. Three examples secured, on April 3, 1 1 and 22, 1917, respec- tively: No. 27909, S , weight 31.5 grams, wing 139.8 mm. ; no. 27910, 9 , weight 45.2 grams, wing 136.1 mm. ; no. 27911, $ , weight 40.2 grams, wing 140.3 mm. By coloration and wing- length these specimens fall in with P. n. nuttallii, rather than with P. n. nitidiis (see Grinnell, 1914, pp. 141-142). In each bird the reproductive organs showed small degree of develop- ment, so all were likely migrants destined to breed in regions to the north of the general region of Death Valley or else at much higher levels in the mountains adjacent. In 1891, a specimen was obtained at Bennett Wells January 28, and the species was seen and heard at Furnace Creek Ranch April 10 and in Mesquite Valley [Flat] April 13 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 51, 52, 151). The Bennett Wells specimen is a female, no. 140364, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. ; its wing measures 151.0 mm., indicating an extra large individual of nuttallii. 43. Chordeiles minor hesperis Grinnell. Pacific Nighthawk. One record : specimen secured at Furnace Creek Ranch, June 19, 1891 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 53, 151). Originally reported under the name henryi, but later determined to be hesperis (see Oberholser, 1914, p. 50). 44. Chordeiles acutipennis texensis Lawrence. Texas Nighthawk. Appeared at dusk over the green fields of Furnace Creek Ranch quite regularly save when a gale was blowing. Was already present on the evening of April 2, 1917, the date of my first arrival on the ranch. From two to six would be seen in an evening; the latter number was checked on April 26, Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 59 1917. Whenever chance offered, the birds were closely scruti- nized as to position of the white patch on the wing, so as to be sure of differentiation of texensis from hesperis. The only time the Texas Nighthawk was seen on the open desert was on April 19, 1920, some two miles southwest of the ranch, — 250 feet altitude. There, about 10 a.m., two (male and female) were flushed about 30 feet apart, each from the 'shade of a small arrowweed clump. They showed no interest in the locality, but flew straight away northwards, mounting higher and higher into the shimmering sky, probably in migration. Five specimens taken: No. 27916, 5, April 19, 1917; no. 27917, S, April 20, 1917; no. 40534, S, April 6, 1920; no. 40677, 9 , April 12, 1920; no. 40535, $ , April 15, 1920. The weights of the four males were, respectively, 45.5, 53.1, 59.2 and 61.4 grams ; all were more or less fat. None of the night- hawks taken showed any signs of immediate breeding. 45. Chaetura vauxi (Townsend). Vaux Swift. Mr. Dixon examined a bird of this species which was shot May 22, 1917, by his assistant at Salt Creek, — 200 feet. The day was intensely hot there, and the specimen was not preserved. 46. Aeronautes melanoleucus (Baird). White-throated Swift. Visited Furnace Creek Ranch at irregular intervals, mostly on calm warm days. Specimens taken showed breeding activity, so that the birds doubtless had their headquarters in some precipitous place in the mountains closely adjacent to Death Valley. Noted first on April 2, 1917. The greatest number checked on one day was on April 29, 1917, when six- teen were counted in one dizzying troupe high overhead above the alfalfa fields. The least number for one day was two on April 16, 1920. Three specimens taken : No. 27923, $ , April 3, 1917, weight 34.5 grams; no. 27924, S , April 29, 1917, weight 31.3 grams; no. 40537, S , April 19, 1920, weight 28.3 grams. 70 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Se*. In 1891, found at Mesquite Wells April 8, and at Furnace Creek Ranch April 15 and June 20 (Fisher 1893, pp. 55, 151). 47 Archilochus alexandri (Bourcier & Mulsant). Black-chinned Humming-bird. One specimen shot from cottonwood at Furnace Creek Ranch, April 22, 1917; no. 27926, S adult; weight 2.9 grams. 48. Calypte costae (Bourcier). Costa Hummingbird. At Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, April 17, 1917, one lone female was found before sunrise perched near the ground in the center of a mesquite thicket; and at noon of the same day a male inspected a red "carnation milk" can in camp. At Furnace Creek Ranch at least five of these hummingbirds were seen on April 22, 1917, and one was seen the next day. All were in the fields of blossoming alfalfa. Two specimens taken : No. 27932, 9 , Triangle Spring, April 17, 1917, weight 3.0 grams; no. 27933, 9, Furnace Creek Ranch, April 22, 1917, weight 2.8 grams. Neither showed signs of immediate breeding. In 1891, found at Furnace Creek Ranch April 12 and June 19 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 57, 151). 49. Selasphorus rufus (Gmelin). Rufous Hummingbird. A male heard and seen by me near Furnace Creek Ranch on the morning of April 29, 1917, as it skimmed along a line of mesquites. 50. Tyrannus verticalis Say. Western Kingbird. A fairly common migrant during April in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch. In 1917, noted from April 6 to April 28; in 1920, from April 7 to 20. Usually but one to three seen in a two- or three-hour census. On April 28, 1917, seven were counted in one "drove". On the evening of April 22, 1917, after sundown, eight appeared, descending from high in the sky, and alighted in two dead-topped cottonwoods on the ranch. On April 10, 1920, one flew over, going north, near the Borax Mill, two miles or so north of the ranch. Vol. XIII] GRINN ELL— BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY y\ Three specimens taken: No. 27942, $, April 22, 1917, weight 44.5 grams; no. 27943, $, same date, weight 39.0 grams; no. 40538, $ , April 7, 1920, weight 43.3 grams. 51. Myiarchus cinerascens cinerascens (Lawrence). Ash-throated Flycatcher. Noted by me only at Furnace Creek Ranch, in 1917. Ob- served on April 26, 29 and 30, one bird each day. A male, 'no. 27949, shot on the last specified date ; weight 27 grams. In 1891, a pair was seen at the mouth of the caiion just above Furnace Creek Ranch, June 21, and the species was thought to be breeding at the bottom of Mesquite Valley [Flat] (Fisher, 1893, pp. 60, 61, 151). 52. Sayornis sayus (Bonaparte). Say Phoebe. Permanently resident and widely distributed in Death Valley. Probably able to go entirely without water, even in the hottest weather, save for such as may be secured along with its insect food or elaborated during the processes of metabolism. In the near neighborhood of Furnace Creek Ranch during April, from one to three would be checked in a 3-hour census. At the Borax Mill, — 200 feet, two miles or so north of the ranch a pair observed on April 10, 1920, were behaving as though a nesting site had been selected somewhere about the ruins. The next day one was heard singing among the crags of a "painted caiion" three or four miles south of the ranch. Around Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, April 15 to 17, 1917, up to four were seen daily. They were then in pairs and were prone to perch on the bare pebbly ground at the edge of the low bluff there ; individuals were to be seen "prospecting" along the steep walls of the gullies which cut the mesa back of the bluff. The Say Phoebe was one of the very few birds encountered in the lowest portion of Death Valley, at the east edge of "bad water" (of the U.S.G.S. map) April 21 and 22, 1920. On the 22nd, beginning at early dawn, about 4:15 a.m., two individ- uals sang continually with hardly a minute's cessation till 5 :00 (that is, until broad daylight). As the snowy tops of the Panamints suddenly began to pink, throwing the light back 71 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIEMCES [Proc. 4th Ser. against the dark-shadowed west wall of the Black Mountains, the Phcebes stopped singing. It had then become light enough for them to begin the morning's foraging. Four specimens procured : Nos. 27952, S , 27953, S , 27954, 9, 40540, S, April 9, 16 and 17, 1917, and April 19, 1920; weights, 20.6, 21.2, 16.9 and 22.5 grams. In 1891, found at Bennett Wells and Furnace Creek Ranch the latter part of January, and at the latter place April 9, 12 and June 19-22 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 61, 62, 151). 53. Sayornis nigricans (Swainson). Black Phcebe. Sparingly transient. Noted on or near Furnace Creek Ranch April 9, 10, 15 and 19, 1917, and April 8 and 9, 1920. Only one bird seen on any one day. One of the birds (April 8) was observed to start off in flight over the desert northward. One specimen taken, no. 27959, S , April 9, 1917; weight 17.7 grams. Mr. Dixon saw one individual at Salt Creek, — 200 feet, April 14, 1917. In 1891, observed at Furnace Creek Ranch April 12 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 63, 151). 54. Myiochanes richardsonii richardsonii (Swainson). Western Wood Pewee. Late migrant. Mr. Dixon noted "three or four" on Furnace Creek Ranch May 19, 1917. 55. Empidonax hammondii (Xantus). Hammond Flycatcher. But one positively established occurrence : No. 27974, S , shot by me among the mesquites just west of Furnace Creek Ranch, April 11, 1917; weight, 9.5 grams; unequivocally hammondii. Another small flycatcher thought to be of the same species was seen at the same time and place. 56. Empidonax wrightii Baird. Wright Flycatcher. One specimen shot by me in the mesquites below (west of) Furnace Creek Ranch, April 26, 1917: No. 27977, 6 ; weight 12.0 grams; unquestionably wrightii. Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 73 57. Empidonax griseus Brewster. Gray Flycatcher. Encountered in the mesquites just west of Furnace Creek Ranch on three different days: April 26, 1917, two; May 4, 1917, one; April 16, 1920, two. One obtained on each of these dates : No. 27978, S , weight 14.8 grams ; no. 27979, $ , weight 12.3 grams; no. 40544, $ , weight 13.1 grams. All of these specimens show the characters of griseus in high degree. In 1891, "a. specimen [recorded as zi/rightii] was secured among the willows at the edge of the reservoir" at Furnace Creek Ranch, February 1, and "two small flycatchers, probably this species, were seen there about the middle of April" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 65, 66, 151). The specimen taken is a female, no. 140152, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. ; it is griseus without question. 58. Pyrocephalus rubinus mexicanus Sclater. Vermilion Flycatcher. Not found previously to 1920. On the morning of April 4 of that year a brilliant male was seen on a fence bordering an alfalfa field at Furnace Creek Ranch. It was shy, and flew from perch to perch until it launched out eastwardly high into the sky. On April 5, before sunrise, a male, not in fullest red plumage, was shot from one of the guy-wires of the hay der- rick. And on April 8, a female was shot from the tip of a mesquite just outside the outer ranch fence. No one of these individuals showed any signs of immediate breeding. On April 9, 1920, a brilliant male appeared along the main line of cottonwoods on the ranch perching on dead outswaying tips of the trees and upon fence-posts. It sang rather per- sistently a weak song of rising and falling inflection, reminding me much of a Traill Flycatcher. This was quite surely a new individual for the ranch, as it is hardly possible that so con- spicuous a bird could have escaped my eye or ear on previous days. This same bird, I was positive, was observed almost daily until the 16th; and on the 14th it was noted in close attention upon a new female in a dead-topped cottonwood right above camp; thereafter both were seen at frequent intervals, sometimes along the line of cottonwoods, often on fence-posts, 74 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. and occasionally around the big pile of weevily mesquite logs. On the 15th the pair was apparently prospecting for a nest site in a dead cottonwood ; the male would fly out and up, circling slowly on fluttering wings, the female giving a low note, pseet, in series meanwhile; then the male would sing his sputtering song, weak but reminding me of a Black Phoebe or a Traill Flycatcher. Nothing was seen of the species after April 16. I had re- frained from disturbing the pair in any way, and they were too wary for the Indian children to get with bow and arrow as they did the robins. It is my impression that all the birds seen are best considered as winter or early spring wanderers northwestward from their known breeding grounds. They are thus to be placed in the same category with the occurrences of this species on the coastal slope of southern California. This Death Valley record now made is about 100 miles to the north- ward of the previous northernmost station of occurrence in California, which is on the Colorado River near Needles. The two specimens, taken April 5 and 8, are : No. 40546, $ , weight 13.3 grams; no. 40547, 2 , weight 12.9 grams. 59. Otocoris alpestris ammophila Oberholser. Mohave Horned Lark. Two Homed Larks were noted at Furnace Creek Ranch, April 12, 1917. One individual was heard and seen in flight April 11, 1920, at the tip of "black point", near B.M. —223, six miles south of the ranch. These are referred with confi- dence to ammophila because this was the race to which a num- ber of specimens belong, which were secured in the general region of Death Valley. 60. Pica pica hudsonia (Sabine). Black-billed Magpie. Mr. and Mrs. Dane Coolidge saw four magpies one-half mile east of Furnace Creek Ranch on December 26, 1919; and two more were seen at the ranch December 29. A magpie was caught by an Indian boy in a steel trap set beside a dead horse near the ranch, and parts of the bird were saved by Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge and brought to the museum (constituting no. Vol. XIII] GRINN ELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 75 40425). Mr. Denton reported that about October 25, 1919, great flocks of magpies, numbering probably 1500 in all, came from the north and swarmed all over the fields. They gradually drifted away, and the ones seen by Mr, and Mrs. Coolidge, as above, were the last of the invasion. Mr. Denton had never seen this bird in Death Valley before, and two old Indians made the same declaration, though a boy claimed he had seen lots of them. This record is the southernmost to date for the species in California, and indicates a sporadic southward drift of popu- lation, probably merely local, from northern Nevada perhaps. 61. Corvus corax sinuatus Wagler. Western Raven. Of regular and wide occurrence in Death Valley. Noted at Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, April 15 to 17, 1917, one or two at a time. On the 16th, two were seen at sunrise perched on a bare mound out on the plain ; and later the same day a pair circled over camp, quarreling over something which one of the birds had in its bill and kept hold of despite the repeated at- tacks of the other bird. Ravens were seen at Salt Creek, — 200 feet, every time the place was visited. On April 3, 1920, five flew by in one party. In 1917 a pair had its nest on a ledge near the top of the face of a low bluff half a mile or so below the road crossing. On May 21 this nest was found to contain young nearly ready to fly ; one was taken and its stomach examined ; contents : "tails and feet of two lizards, about a dozen small fish from Salt Creek and several large white worms" (Dixon, MS). The fishes in Salt Creek, as identified from specimens submitted by me to Dr. Chas. H. Gilbert of Stanford Univer- sity, are Cyprinodon macidariits. At Furnace Creek Ranch, ravens were to be seen almost daily, usually but one or two each day. On April 21, 1920, one was seen eating caterpillars on an alfalfa stubble field. On the preceding day a company of eight came flying over the ranch against a strong south wind. By giving the "bluejay call" these were gotten to circle low over the collector concealed in some brush and one was shot : No. 40551, $ a year old, non- breeder; weight, 785.5 grams. 75 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ssr. Near B.M. — 223. not far from ''black point", some six miles south of the ranch, a raven was seen April 11, 1920, flying above the "borax" flat. And near "bad water", — 280 feet, two flew by low over the flat at 5 :30 p.m., April 21, 1920. In 1891, "in Death Valley they were observed by every party that visited the place from the first week in January to the last in June" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 71, 151). 62. Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis Ridgway. Western Crow. Noted but twice at Furnace Creek Ranch : April 6, 1920, one lone bird flying low over the desert in direct course north- ward, cawing occasionally; April 21, 1920, one on alfalfa stubble apparently eating caterpillars; kept in vicinity of a raven, flying up to a fence-post now and then, and did a great deal of cawing although otherwise alone. 63. Molothrus ater obscurus (Gmelln). Dwarf Cowbird. Appeared in some numbers (up to six in sight at once) on Furnace Creek Ranch the third week of April. Frequented the stock corrals and the cottonwood trees adjacent, often in company with Brewer Blackbirds. Specimens obtained as follows : No. Sex Date Weight Wing 28095 9 April 24, 1917 30.0 g. 92.1 mm. 28097 9 April 27, 1917 30.7 91.9 28098 9 May 4, 1917 31.5 91.6 28096 S April 24, 1917 36.3 101.0 40553 S April 20, 1920 38.6 104.9 Weights seem to be diagnostic, as well as wing-lengths (see Grinnell, 1914, pp. 159-160) ; no. 40553 is rather large for obscurus J perhaps an intergrade towards artemisice. 64. Molothrus ater artemisiae Grinnell. Nevada Cowbird. Two specimens secured at Furnace Creek Ranch: No. 28100, 9 , April 27, 1917; weight 36.3 grams; wing 105.1 mm. No. 40552, $ , April 20, 1920; weight 47.5 grams; wing 109.2 Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 'J'J mm. Each of these was taken when cowbirds of the other sub- species were present also. A cowbird shot at Salt Creek, —200 feet, May 22, 1917, but not preserved, was thought to have been of this race. In 1891, a lone bird, an adult male, was secured at Furnace Creek Ranch, June 20 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 73, 151). This ex- ample is now no. 142103, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat Mus. ; $ ; wing 112.8 mm.; culmen 17.6; it has been examined by me and proves to be artemisicB without a question. 65. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonaparte). Yellow-headed Blackbird. Present on Furnace Creek Ranch off and on almost through- out the month of April. Noted in 1917 from April 4 to April 29; in 1920 from April 4 to 20. Usually seen in company with Red-winged Blackbirds, but sometimes flocked separately; oc- casionally but one or two would be seen in with a crowd of red-wings, and then again up to 15 would be counted. Old males were present up to the latest date when the species was observed at all, but no indications of immediate breeding were noted. It was inferred that all of the birds were still in transit. There was no doubt but that the population on the ranch was continually shifting. Some days a thorough census would show not a bird present; then a flock would suddenly appear and forage eagerly around the corrals or on the fields. The gullet of a male killed on a newly sown field April 8, 1920, was full of wheat. Seen away from the immediate environs of the ranch but once, on May 20, 1920, when three were en- countered in some mesquites along an overflow streamlet down at the edge of the "borax" flat, — 250 feet, west of the ranch. Specimens were preserved as follows : No. Sex Date Weight 28113 $ ad. April 4, 1917 95.5 grams 28114 5 ad. April 24, 1917 63.7 grams 28115 S ad. April 26, 1917 95.0 grams 40558 $ ad. April 8, 1920 102.8 grams In 1891, a specimen was secured at Bennett Wells, April 1 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 73, 151) ; now no. 139434, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. ; $ adult. 78 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 66. Agelaius phoeniceus nevadensis Grinnell, Nevada Red-winged Blackbird. Present almost every day through April of both 1917 and 1920, but varying in numbers. No doubt frequent replacements occurred; in other words the species was actively transient. However, no fully adult males proved to be included among the specimens taken, nor were such seen positively. It was inferred that all or most of the old males had already passed through or else that they did not tarry. The Red-winged Blackbirds which loitered at Furnace Creek Ranch found favorable perching places there in the cottonwoods and forage ground out in the fields, either of grain or alfalfa. Some days only two, or even none, would be checked in a census of the ranch. On April 19, 1917, fully seventy-five were present, and on April 26 of the same year, late in the evening, a flock of approximately one hundred ar- rived and alighted out in an alfalfa field of several acres, ap- parently to roost there. Eighteen specimens were taken, nos. 28117-28, 40560-65. All the seven males included have imperfect shoulder-bars and thickish bills, these being marks of immaturity. The females, however, seemed to be mostly adults; none showed signs of immediate breeding. All of the specimens taken are referable to the race nevadensis. The weights of the seven males vary from 55.0-64.5 grams (average 60.5), of the eleven females, 41.0-49.6 grams (average 45.2). At Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, April 15, 1917, two Red- winged Blackbirds flew by going north; and at Salt Creek, — 200 feet, April 3, 1920, four were seen about a marshy place. In 1891, eight or ten individuals comprising a flock were seen at Furnace Creek Ranch during the latter part of January (Fisher, 1893, pp. 74, 151). 67. Stumella neglecta Audubon. Western Meadowlark. Permanent resident on Furnace Creek Ranch. In April, 1920, there were thought to be seven pairs established for nesting, the males sequestered and singing. In addition, com- panies of six to twelve were seen from time to time, which would subsequently disappear and were supposed to be winter Vol. XIII] GRINNELL— BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 79 visitants or transients. Even as late as April 29, 1917, eight silent individuals were seen in a scattering flock, transients it was thought. The Indian children told me that they often found meadowlarks' nests *'in the summertime". This means June, and in substantiation of this lateness of nesting, no evidences of actual eggs or young were noted by us up to the first of May. One bird was seen carrying grass in its bill on April 29. This lateness of the nesting of Meadowlarks in Death Valley is hard to reconcile with the theory that it is the accumulation of heat to a certain critical quantity with the approach of spring which initiates the reproductive cycle. For it is certainly far hotter at Furnace Creek Ranch in April than it is in west- central California in July even, where the Meadowlarks are nesting generally by the first of April. The songs of the Death Valley Meadowlarks as a lot sounded different, less full and rounded, to my ear than the usual ones heard in California west of the deserts. Yet there was also much individual variability. I got to know by its song each of the males located in the fields on the eastern part of the ranch near our camp. One particular bird had a curi- ously "flatted" song which was repeated with great persistence most of the day so that it would become distressingly monotonous. Two specimens taken: No. 28159, S, April 12, 1917, weight 119.3 grams; no. 40566, $, April 15, 1920, weight 106.2 grams. These do not differ appreciably from skins of the same season taken at various points on the Pacific slope of California. Mr. Dane Coolidge found fifteen or twenty Meadowlarks present on the plowed fields of Furnace Creek Ranch in De- cember, 1919. In 1891, they were "not uncommon" at Bennett Wells, near Eagle Borax Works, and at Furnace Creek Ranch ; present at the latter point the last of January and June 19-21 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 75, 76, 151). Three specimens are in the Biological Survey collection, U. S. National Museum, all taken in 1891 at "Furnace Creek" Ranch, as follows: No. 139406, $ , Jan- uary 28, 1891, A. K. Fisher; no. 139407, $ , January 23, 1891, A. K. Fisher; no. 139396, $, June 19, 1891, V. Bailey. The bill of the last is longest and is blackish as is the case with some gQ CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. breeding males of the species; and of course the plumage of the bird is much worn. 68. Icterus cucullatus nelsoni Ridgway. Arizona Hooded Oriole. One occurrence: A lone individual was caught sight of twenty feet above the ground in the crown-foliage of a cotton- wood on Furnace Creek Ranch, April 8, 1920. The bird, when I shot it, proved to be an "immature" male (throat black, but no black elsewhere in the plumage) : No. 40567 ; weight 25.2 grams. This bird furnishes the northernmost record for Cali- fornia east of the Sierran divides by fully 250 miles — a far- flung pioneer. 69. Icterus bullockii (Swainson). Bullock Oriole. Nesting in the cottonwpod trees on Furnace Creek Ranch. First arrival noted in 1917 at 6:30 a.m. of April 10, in 1920 on the morning of April 12, solitary males in both cases. Males were seen daily after these initial dates, but no female was seen in 1917 until April 20 and in 1920 until April 14. The males, before the arrival of the females, did a great deal of singing, and just as soon as they arrived each laid claim to a particular row of trees, from which it expelled other indi- viduals of the same species. In 1917 there were thought to be six males established on the ranch (by the 23rd of April) ; in 1920 there were only two males established, though as many as four others, thought to be transients, were noted in one day (on April 19). On April 29, 1917, a nest had been well started in an out- swaying leafy branch of a cottonwood, but a gale thrashed it to pieces. Most of the nests built on Furnace Creek Ranch must meet a like fate. Yet there were old nests, of a previous season, still holding out in some of the cottonwoods, and it is to be inferred that some of the nestings are successful. Three specimens taken: No. 28166, $, April 22, 1917, weight 32.5 grams; no. 28167, $ , April 22, 1917, 31.4 grams; no. 40568, $ , April 21, 1920, 35.5 grams. In 1891, the species was noted only casually, one bird being recorded as observed among the cottonwoods at Furnace Creek Vol. XIII] GRINN ELL— BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY gl Ranch "about the middle of April". A specimen is listed as taken in "Death Valley", April 7 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 77, 78, 151). This proves to be no. 139368, $ , Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus.; April 7, 1891, V. Bailey; "Bennett's Wells". 70. Euphagus cyanocephalus cyanocephalus (Wag-ler). Rocky Mountain Brewer Blackbird. ' Present off and on nearly through April. Last seen on April 29, in 1917. Usually from three to ten would be noted in a three-hour census. But on April 24, 1917, at sundown, a flock about fifty put in an appearance in the enclosure around the main haystack ; and a little later the same evening a flock, or cloud, of fully two hundred blackbirds (some, at least, of which were Brewers) appeared high overhead, but drifted off northward without settling. Ten specimens taken: Nos. 28172-79, 40569-70, of dates ranging from April 1 1 to April 24. Weights : 3 5 9 , 54.4- 65.2 grams (average 61.2); 6S S, 71.0-85.7 grams (77.4). (For critical discussion of the race to which these specimens belong, see Grinnell, 1920, p. 153.) At Salt Creek, —200 feet. April 14, 1917, one lone male Brewer Blackbird came sociably around camp, "talked" a good deal, and seemed glad to find company even though human. The chance of finding a bit to eat doubtless also figured in the bird's attitude. In 1891, "a few individuals were found about the ranch at Furnace Creek ... in the latter part of January" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 78, 79, 151). Two taken: No. (Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus.) 139311, 9, January 27, 1891; and no. 139310, 9, January 25, 1891. 71. Carpodacus purpureus califomicus Baird. California Purple Finch. A casual visitant. On the forenoon of April 11, 1917, I flushed two from the ground in the edge of an alfalfa field on Furnace Creek Ranch. They flew up into a cottonwood, where one was shot: No. 28187, 9 (no sign of early breeding) ; weight 21.8 grams. g2 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 72. Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis (Say). California Linnet. A permanent resident in Death Valley. Of frequent but not continuous occurrence on Furnace Creek Ranch. While seen on or near the ranch in April, on a good many days from the 4th to the 29th inclusive, no indication of nesting- there was noted. Usually from two to ten individuals would be checked in a two- or three-hour census. On April 20, 1920, between the ranch and the "borax" flat to the west, thirteen Linnets were checked in three hours ; these were mostly in flight high overhead, some of them in a course directly across the Valley from the direction of the Panamint Mountains. On April 11, 1920, several Linnets were met with at about sea-level in a narrow "cork-screw" caiion in the Black Moun- tains six miles or so south of Furnace Creek Ranch. A female was seen to fly from a little hole in the rock wall about fifteen feet above the bed of the gulch, where I supposed she had a nest. Males were heard singing from high among the vari- colored crags. Linnets were frequent visitants to Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, April 15 to 17, 1917; up to ten were checked as a result of two hours of watching. Several of the birds were seen on the nearby mesa feeding on the seeds of the desert holly (A triplex hymen elytra). At Salt Creek, — 200 feet, fully fifteen were noted on April 14, 1917, nearly all in flight overhead whence their cheerful-sounding songs would indicate their presence and direction of flight, even though the birds themselves could not be descried against the shimmering blue of the desert sky. None was seen to visit the salty water. There is no question but that Linnets must have fresh water to drink daily and probably two or more times a day. Yet the presence of the birds in a particular place does not necessarily mean the existence of water anywhere in the vicinity ; for they certainly fly far and wide, many miles away from their head- quarters, in search of desirable forage. Seven specimens were preserved from Death Valley, nos. 28192-97, 40571; the two females weighed 18.2 and 18.7 grams, and the five males 17.5-20.7 grams (average 19.5). Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 83 In 1891, "a few [Linnets] were seen at Bennett Wells and between that place and Furnace Creek during the latter part of January", It was seen at Furnace Creek Ranch about the middle of April, and at this place and Bennett Wells June 19- 22 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 80, 81, 151). In the Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus., is a full-grown $ juvenal, no. 139215, taken by A. K. Fisher at Furnace Creek Ranch, June 21, 1891. " 73. Astragalinus psaltria hesperophilus Oberholser. Green-backed Goldfinch. Present on Furnace Creek Ranch almost every day in April, from the 4th (in 1920) to the 29th (in 1917). The numbers varied greatly, and it was believed that birds were continually coming and going ; no signs of nesting in Death Valley proper were noted. Usually only one or two would be seen or heard in a two- or three-hour census on the ranch ; on April 26, 1917, twelve were checked in one hour, and on April 5, 1920, thirteen were counted in one flock perched in a cottonwood. Mostly, the birds were detected when in flight, but some were met with in the edges of the alfalfa, feeding on the seeds of the sow- thistle. At Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, April 16, 1917, three Green- backed Goldfinches were seen in flight. Five specimens were taken on Furnace Creek Ranch : Nos. 28239-42, 40572; the two females weighed 9.4 and 8.7 grams, the three males 8.4, 8.9 and 8.3 (average of the five, 8.7 grams). These skins are indistinguishable from specimens of corresponding season from the Pacific slope of California. 74. Pooecetes gramineus confinis Baird. Western Vesper Sparrow. Present on Furnace Creek Ranch intermittently during April. Earliest noted, April 4 (1920); latest, April 29 (1917). Usually, when seen at all, from two to six or eight would be checked in a two- or three-hour census. Frequented the drier parts of the ranch, especially an abandoned alfalfa field, not regularly irrigated and weedy. On April 24, 1917, g4 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIEXCES [Proc. 4th Ser. fifteen, the most met with in any one day, were counted on one ten-acre tract of new-mown alfalfa. At Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, a Western Ves^^er Sparrow was caught in an oat-baited mouse trap April 18, 1917. Eleven specimens were taken, of dates ranging from April 7 to April 29: Nos. 28262-71, 40573. Weights: 5 $ 9 , 20.0- 22.9 grams (average 21.3) -,63$, 20.8-25.5 grams (average 23.1). These skins are all definitely confinis. None of them shows any sign of molt in progress; it is curious that there should be no pre-nuptial molt in the Vesper Sparrows when there is, so conspicuously, in the Savannah Sparrows. 75. Passerculus sandw^ichensis alaudinus Bonaparte. Western Savannah Sparrow. Savannah Sparrows in varying numbers were to be found v.-^hen looked for on Furnace Creek Ranch almost throughout April. They frequented the lush alfalfa and the tracts of Ber- muda grass along the ditches, flying thence, when disturbed, to fence wires or up into cottonwoods or willows. Of the twenty- four specimens collected, fifteen are referred to almidinus and nine to nci'adensis. Only two or three of the specimens gave trouble in determining them, in that their characters were rather intermediate. The very pale coloration of "good" ncvadensis made it possible to recognize many individuals subspecifically at ordinary field range, before being shot, especially when silhouetted against a dark alfalfa background. Usually from four to ten Savannah Sparrows would be checked in two or three hours. On April 24, 1917, there were fully thirty-five on one ten-acre patch of alfalfa stubble. The gasping, sizzling songs were heard on April 22 and subse- quently, but no indications of imminent breeding were shown by any of the birds collected. Savannah Sparrows were observed at Salt Creek, — 200 feet, April 14, 1917, and April 3, 1920: As many as six were flushed from one patch of cane, and some were seen in the salt grass areas. The s^^ecimens of alaudinus taken range in date from April 4 (1920) to April 28 (1917). Their numbers are: 24281, 24283-89, 40575-81. Their weights: \0 $ $ , 14.7-20.0 Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY g5 grams (average 18.1); 5 9 9, 14.5-17,5 (16.2); average of all 15, 17.4 grams. Many of the skins show the partial pre- nuptial molt in progress. Savannah Sparrows were found in 1891 "not uncommon" in the alfalfa fields at Furnace Creek Ranch in the latter part of January, and April 9-12, but were not seen there in June (Fisher, 1893, pp. 86, 151). In the Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus., are three skins taken by Dr. A. K. Fisher in 1891 'on Furnace Creek Ranch as follows : No. 138940, 9 , January 26; 138941, S , January 31 ; 138942, S , January 31. All three are alaudinus, strictly. 76. Passerculus sandwichensis nevadensis Grinnell. Nevada Savannah Sparrow. Nine specimens of Savannah Sparrow referable to this race were taken on Furnace Creek Ranch: Nos. 28280, 28282, 28292-94, 28296, 40582-84. The dates of these range from April 4 to April 26 (both extreme dates in 1917). Weights: S $ $ , 16.0 to 18.1 grams (average 17.2) ; 4 9 9 , 14.3-16.4 (15.3) ; average of all 9 specimens, 16.4 grams. The feature of relatively small size in nevadensis as compared with alaudinus is borne out by the weights here recorded. 77. Chondestes grammacus strigatus Swainson, Western Lark Sparrow, A transient on Furnace Creek Ranch. First noted in 1917, on April 13, one bird at noon singing in a cottonwood; first in 1920, on April 16, a pair, one singing. On April 29, 1917, fully twelve were noted in a four-hour exploration of the ranch and its immediate environs. On intervening dates, when ob- served at all, two to ten would be observed. Latest date of observance. May 4, 1917, Specimens taken, four, all males: Nos. 28327-30; weights, 28.4 to 31.7 grams (average 30.5). g5 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 78. Passer domesticus domesticus (Linnaeus). English Sparrow. The greatest surprise, ornithologically, which I experienced on first visiting Death Valley came with the discovery, on April 2, 1917, that a colony of English Sparrows was well established on Furnace Creek Ranch. They were subsequently found to number about fifty, and to have their main head- quarters in the tops of the several tall Washington palms which overshadow the ranch house. A few had their nests, built in usual style, of dry grasses and chicken feathers, in the higher forks of Cottonwood trees elsewhere on the ranch. No birds were seen ofif the ranch proper, save as two or more pairs would occasionally venture up along the line of large mesquites to the Indian "village" along the in-flow ditch within three hundred yards east of the ranch house. As to date of appearance of the English Sparrows in Death Valley, Mr. Oscar Denton, foreman of the ranch, stated to me that he first saw them in 1914; and that he thought they came in about the time the Death Valley spur of the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad was constructed to its present terminus. This is at Ryan, which is only seventeen miles, by a road over which more or less teaming has been done, from the ranch. The sparrows are quite likely to have availed themselves of the horse litter of the construction camps along the route indicated. At any rate, they are now present at both Ryan and Death Valley Junction, as well as at other stations along the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. In December, 1919, Mr. Dane Coolidge found the sparrows in evidence about Furnace Creek Ranch and estimated that "twenty-five or thirty" were sleeping in the fan palms. In April, 1920, I thought there must be close to sixty present all told. I tried repeatedly to count them, but never got more than twenty-four actually checked in one consecutive search of two to three hours. As usual, they were expert at keeping out of sight and hearing, especially when they got the idea that they were being sought for. The masses of dead, down-turned palm leaves formed ideal concealment for both the nests and the birds themselves. Vol. XIII] GRINN ELL— BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY g/ When Mr. Denton fed his chickens, up to twenty-five or so of the sparrows would fly down with the fowls. Then it was that I shot most of the specimens taken. Mr. Denton himself was accustomed to "shoot off the sparrows" every now and then because he lost so much of his chicken-feed to them. With all the killing done, however, I could perceive no reduction in their numbers up to the time I left the ranch, April 22, 1920. One of the "adults" shot April 3, 1917, a male, had "win- dows" in its skull. This indicated, according to my experi- ence, that it could not have been over six months old, and this would mean a date of hatching about the first of October — surely a late nesting date. A female shot on April 12 contained an tgg nearly ready to lay. The first young-of-the-year, two bob-tailed birds, came down from the crown of one of the big palms on April 13 (1920). However, six adult females shot on April 5 all had the ova small and otherwise showed no signs of nesting, so that breeding could not as yet have become general throughout the colony. A total of twenty-seven measurable study-skins of English Sparrow are now available from Death Valley, nos. 28246-51, 40586-606; the first series of number applies to six birds taken April 3 and 5, 1917, and the second series to twenty-one birds taken April 5 to 12, 1920. In all of these abrasion of the plumage is slight, so that the wing measurements are of definite value. Thirteen males give an average wing length of 75.7 mm. (extremes 71.5 and 78.7); culmen, 12.1 (11.0- 13.3). Fourteen females, wing 74.1 (71.0-78.0); culmen, 12.0 (10.7-12.9). Weights, thirteen males, 28.9 grams (26.9- 30.6) ; fourteen females, 28.9 (24.0-31.0). Witherby (Practical Handbook of British Birds, 1919, p. 101) says: "The wings of ninety British males measure 72-81 mm., average 76.2, and of 50 Continental males 75-82, average 78.9. The Continental House-Sparrow thus averages larger than the British, but of the ninety British measured by us only seventeen, or about nineteen per cent., could be dis- tinguished by their size." He, therefore, does not consider a British race, hostilis of Kleinschmidt, as properly recognizable in nomenclature. Whether or not a slightly smaller British race of Passer domesticus be recognized by name, it will be observed that the gg CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIEXCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Death Valley birds give a wing length practically the same as that of Witherby's British birds. And, of course, it will be recalled here that all American birds are quite surely de- rived from English stock. As set forth elsewhere (Grinnell, 1919) the Death Valley colony furnishes an extremely interesting "experiment in nature". If it persists many years, opportunity will be afforded of seeing how soon, if at all, the extreme climatic conditions of the environment there will impress the birds with discernible features, such as paler coloration and reduced dark markings. The series of adult specimens thus far taken on Furnace Creek Ranch shows no appreciable peculiarities of either color or proportions as compared with others taken in west-central California and in the eastern United States. From most of these, it is true, the Death Valley birds stand out rather sharply by reason of their clean un-smoked plumage; they lack the dinginess of the usual town birds. But with all adventitious factors accounted for, I am unable to find any appreciable dif- ferences in either color tone, or extent of markings, of the sort usually characterizing deserticoline subspecies of birds. However, the one juvenal taken on Furnace Creek Ranch (no. 40607, 9 , April 13, 1920, weight 18.2 grams) is dis- tinctly paler, more ashy, less brown, in tone of color all over, than any comparable juvenals (six of them at hand) from the San Francisco Bay region. This is possibly significant of a tendency, first manifest in the young, towards paling of color in the Death Valley stock; but of course this material is alto- gether too scanty to warrant anything more than the merest suggestion. It is to be hoped that collecting of English Sparrows in Death Valley will be possible from time to time, whereby judi- ciously small selections from the population there can be com- pared with series of the birds from elsewhere in North America. 79. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii (Nuttall). Intermediate White-crowned Sparrow, Present in small numbers in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch. Noted in 1917 from April 3 to April 29, and in 1920 Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY §9 from April 7 to April 21. Usually but two to six would be checked in a two- or three-hour census. The greatest number encountered in one day was on April 16, 1920, when ten were checked in three hours. Found usually in the mesquite and arrow weed thickets just west of the ranch, where often com- mingled with groups of Brewer Sparrows. Several taken in mouse traps baited with rolled oats. Seven specimens preserved, nos. 28338-41, 40608-09, 40678. Three males weighed 28.3-29.0 grams (average 28.7) ; four females, 21.1-24.8 (23.1). All showed molt in various stages, the dates ranging from April 3 to 22. At Salt Creek, — 200 feet, about ten were found in mes- quites, April 14, 1917. In 1891, found to be "common" about Furnace Creek Ranch the last of January and April 9-12 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 88, 89, 151). In the Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus., are three skins, nos. 138816-18, S and 5 adult and S in first-winter plumage, taken there by A. K. Fisher January 23 and 27, 1891. 80. Spizella passerina arizonae Coues. Western Chipping Sparrow, Found sparingly on and around Furnace Creek Ranch, usually along the cottonwood rows or else in mesquites near the overflow ditches. Detailed records are as follows : In 1917, April 4, four; April 9, about eight; April 10, one; April 26, four. In 1920, April 7, one; April 11, two; April 15, about twelve in a 23^-hour census; April 16, four; April 19, two in a 3-hour census ; April 20, about nine in a 3-hour census. At Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, two were seen April 17, 1917. Four specimens preserved: Nos. 28347-48, 40611, 40679. Weights: 3$ $, 12.5-13.2 grams (average 12.7) ; 1 2 , 12.5 grams. 81. Spizella breweri Cassin. Brewer Sparrow. The most plentiful sparrow in Death Valley, but doubtless occurring there only as a transient. Regularly present in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch practically throughout April. First noted on April 3, 1917, when six were seen. Last noted 90 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. on April 29, 1917, when they "were still swarming" in certain tracts of mesquites. Often as many as twenty-five would be checked in a 3-hour census ; on April 16, 1920, 44 were checked in 3 hours; and on April 26, 1917, 110, approximately, were noted in 2 hours. These sparrows showed a great weakness for bathing. They seemed to be spending most of the forenoon hours every day in the mesquites along the overflow ditches, thoroughly wetting the plumage in the shallow streamlets and then perching in the green-canopied branch-work above to preen at great length. Sometimes such bathing parties would be perfectly quiet save for the sound of fluttering wings. Then again some certain individual would break into prolonged singing, of a sort which reminded me of a Chipping Sparrow but which was more varied and with shrill intonations like a tame canary. Occa- sionally many, occupying adjacent mesquite thickets, would sing ecstatically in chorus, giving an effect of the bedlam of canary songs one hears in a bird store. Three Brewer Sparrows were seen in some atriplex brush near B.M. — 251, several miles north of Furnace Creek Ranch, April 13, 1917. At Salt Creek, — 200 feet, about six w^re noted on April 14, 1917. And on April 15 and 16, the same year, fully twenty-five were checked on each day in the immediate vicinity of Triangle Spring, — 13 feet. Nine specimens were taken, at the last-named place ApriJ 15 and 16 (nos. 28353-56), and around Furnace Creek Ranch April 3 (1917) to April 20 (1920) (nos. 28352, 28357, 40612-14). The one female weighed 9.3 grams; seven males weighed 9.9 to 11.7 grams (average 10.8). Another male, very fat, weighed 14.9 grams. In 1891 the Brewer Sparrow was found only in the north- v/est arm of Death Valley (Mesquite Flat) where one was shot April 13 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 91, 152). 82. Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus). Slate-colored Junco. On April 4, 1920, a lone Slate-colored Junco was seen foraging on some freshly-seeded ground in the shade of a Cot- tonwood close to our camp on Furnace Creek Ranch. The bird was, by plumage, a male. It presently flew into a cotton- Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY gi wood, thence off eastward. The subspecies is, of course, in doubt. 83. Junco oreganus shufeldti Coale. Shufeldt Junco. Observed twice, one lone bird each time (April 4 and 9, 1917), in mesquites near Furnace Creek Ranch; on the second occasion in company with some Chipping Sparrows. The one secured (no. 28368, on April 4) is a male; weight, 18.0 grams; wing, 78.0 mm.; tail, 66.4; tarsus, 21.2; culmen, 10.6; color of dorsum dull army brown. The determination of this example as shufeldti is concurred in by Mr. H. S. Swarth. 84. Amphispiza bilineata deserticola Ridgway. Desert Black-throated Sparrow. Observed twice in Death Valley. On April 7, 1920, two individuals were overtaken (one of them "collected") as they dodged from one desert holly bush to another on the wash fan, about — 150 feet, two miles or so south of Furnace Creek Ranch; and on April 21, 1920, I shot a bird from the ground beneath a desert holly bush at about — 280 feet, less than 50 yards from the very edge of the lowest part of the sink (the point called "bad water" on the U.S.G.S. map). This last was the lowest recorded occurrence of any bird in Death Valley. Two specimens taken, as above : No. 40616, 2 , weight 13.3 grams; no. 40617, $ , weight 13.7 grams. 85. Amphispiza nevadensis nevadensis (Ridgway). Nevada Sage Sparrow. Evidently a winter visitant. In 1891, "found in Death Valley from the lower end to Furnace Creek [Ranch], January 21 to February 4;" also seen near Bennett Wells, April 9-12, and in Mesquite Valley, April 13 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 97, 152). In the Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus., there are two speci- mens taken by A. K. Fisher at Furnace Creek [Ranch] Jan- uary 21 and 27, 1891 : No. 136036, wing 77.2 mm., culmen 11.0; no. 136037, wing 73.6 mm., culmen 9.1 (measurements 92 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. taken by the present writer). The sex is not recorded in either case; but it is evident that the first is a male, the second a female. 86. Amphispiza nevadensis canescens Grinnell, California Sage Sparrow. One specimen : No. 28405, S , taken by Mr. J. Dixon near Furnace Creek Ranch, April 3, 1917; weight 16.5 grams, wing 70.9 mm., culmen 9.8 mm. With sex considered, this is decidedly too small for nevadensis; hence canescens. The latter is apparently the breeding form on the Panamint Mountains closely adjacent to Death Valley. 87. Melospiza melodia fallax (Baird). Rocky Mountain Song Sparrow. Two examples secured by us, both at Furnace Creek Ranch, v.'here they were living in arrowweed thickets along overflow ditches: No. 28426, 9 , April 6, 1917, weight 16.5 grams; no. 40619, 9 , April 6, 1920, weight ("fat") 22.2 grams. I have compared these two, as also the 1891 -taken skin referred to below, with the actual types of M. m. Usherella, montana, and fallax in the U.S. National Museum. As already set forth (Grinnell, 1909, p. 269) the older name fallax applies, not to the "Desert" Song Sparrow, but, at least in part, to what has been called "montana" . The type of fallax is in fresh plumage and the color differences shown by it as compared with "montana" are accounted for chiefly upon the basis of this circumstance. Fisherella, as far as I am able to see now, is not so very well characterized as differing from fallax. At any rate, all three of the Death Valley birds seem to me to belong to one form, which fomi should bear the name fallax. It is thus the Rocky Mountain race of Song Sparrow which winters in Death Valley. No race of Song Sparrow whatsoever is known to breed anywhere in the Death Valley region. Song Sparrows were found "tolerably common" in 1891 at Furnace Creek Ranch, January 25 to February 3, but were not found there in June; recorded under the name montana Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 93 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 99, 152). One preserved: No. 138288, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus.; "Furnace Creek", Death Valley; January 25, 1891 ; A. K. Fisher. 88. Melospiza melodia saltonis Grinnell. Salton Sink Song Sparrow. One record: A male (no. 40620, weight 21.8 grams) shot by me on April 5, 1920, in arrow weed thicket at edge of arti- ficial "overflow" pond just off the western edge of Furnace . Creek Ranch. The skin is not distinguishable in any respect from specimens of saltonis from the lower Colorado River valley. Here is a striking case of an individual seeking out in a sequestered spot the precise association in which the species in its metropolis lives — in this case the arrowweed association (see Grinnell, 1914, p. 175). The bird was fat, with testes small, and was obviously a vagrant. 89. Melospiza lincolnii lincolnii (Audubon). Lincoln Sparrow. Observed only at Furnace Creek Ranch, where a transient. Curiously, in 1917 detected but twice, April 10 and 11, one individual in each case; while in 1920 noted almost every day from April 4 to 21, inclusive. The largest number checked on any one day was six, on April 9; ordinarily from one to four would be met with. Found mostly in rank-growing vege- tation along the irrigation ditches whence the birds would be flushed into view momentarily. Where arrowweed thickets were close by they would seek more adequate shelter in these. In only one case was an individual found away from the near vicinity of water: on April 11, 1917, one was caught in an oat- baited mouse trap beneath a mesquite fully 1^ miles north of the ranch. Seven specimens taken, all referable to the subspecies M. I. lincolnii: No. 28427, 5 , and nos. 40621-25, 40680, aW S S ; dates of capture ranging from April 4 to April 12; weights: of 9, 14.5 grams, of six $ $ , 16.0-18.8 grams (average 17.6 grams). 94 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 90. Guiraca caerulea salicarius Grinnell. California Blue Grosbeak. One shot from a fence post between two alfalfa fields on Furnace Creek Ranch April 28, 1917: No. 28505, $ , adult, weight 26.2 grams. In size and proportions of bill this speci- men is intermediate between salicarius and lazula, nearest the former. In 1891, an adult male was secured at Furnace Creek Ranch, June 19 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 106, 107, 152). This specimen I find to bear further data as follows: No, 138105, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. ; 5 ; V. Bailey. It is of an intermediate character, remarks applying as above. 91. Zamelodia melanocephala (Swainson). Black-headed Grosbeak. Mr. Dixon noted one bird on Furnace Creek Ranch, May 19, 1917; doubtless a transient. The subspecies is, of course, not known. 92. Passerina amoena (Say). Lazuli Bunting. Only one record: in 1891, a specimen was secured "in the brush near the ranch [Furnace Creek], June 19" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 107, 108, 152). This specimen is a female, no. 142059, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. 93. Piranga ludoviciana (Wilson). Western Tanager. On April 25, 1917, about 8 a.m., I heard one individual in the cottonwoods above camp on Furnace Creek Ranch. 94. Petrochelidon albifrons (Rafinesque). Cliff Swallow. A transient ; observed only at Furnace Creek Ranch, where appeared from time to time in April, 1917, over the alfalfa fields. Details of occurrence were as follows : April 9, four seen at noon careening against the high wind; April 10, six noted; April 21, about eight; April 29, a troupe of about fifteen, sweeping back and forth over the alfalfa in the evening Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 95 until SO late that I could barely see them against the western sky, in company with bats. Two specimens taken: Nos. 28527-28, both 5 9 , April 10 and 29, respectively; weight, 18.2 and 27.0 grams; wing, 105.9 and 108.5 mm. The latter is thus a decidedly bigger bird than the former, and may possibly have been bound for a more northern station for summering; but it is not as big as Ober- hojser's hypopolia, separated as a northwestern race of Cliff Swallow (Oberholser, 1919, p. 95). I have at present no good basis for selecting any subspecific name for these specimens. No evidence of the nesting of the Cliff Swallow anywhere in the Death Valley region was found by us. 95. Hirundo rustica erythrogaster Boddaert. American Barn Swallow. A transient which was observed only on or near Furnace Creek Ranch, as follows: In 1917, on April 2, two; on April 26, two tacking over alfalfa against northerly gale; April 28, two in flight against north wind, later alighting on stays of derrick. In 1920: April 20, one; April 11, about six; April 15, about four in morning and others in evening; April 16, two. Three taken: No. 28529, $, April 28, weight 18.6 grams; no. 40629, $ , April 15, 17.8 grams; no. 40628, $, April 11, 20.0 grams. 96. Iridoprocne bicolor (Vieillot). Tree Swallow. Observed as a transient at Furnace Creek Ranch as follows : In 1917 only on April 10, when two were seen; in 1920 on ten different days from April 4 to 20, two to six individuals per day. Seen usually over alfalfa with other swallows, more often in late afternoon, though not after sundown. Three specimens taken: No. 28532, $, April 10, 1917, weight 15.6 grams; no. 40630, 9 , April 4, 1920, 17.4 grams; no. 40631, $ , April 12, 1920, 15.4 grams. In 1891 this swallow was "common" about the reservoir at Furnace Creek Ranch, March 23-24, and again the middle of April (Fisher, 1893, pp. Ill, 152). 95 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIESCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 97. Tachycineta thalassina lepida Mearns. Northern Violet-green Swallow. Observed as a transient on or in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch at rather frequent intervals through most of April in both 1917 and 1920. Earliest date, April 4, 1920, when four were seen; latest date, April 28, 1917, when two were seen. Usually but four to ten would be checked in a two- or three-hour census, but up to 18 (in two hours on April 2Z) were counted in a single day. Two specimens taken, nos. 40632-33, both males, on April 10, 1920; weights, 15.7 and 15.5 grams. In 1891, many Violet-green Swallows were observed at Furnace Creek Ranch on April 10 (Fisher, 1893, pp. Ill, 152). 98. Stelgidopteryx serripennis (Audubon). Rough-winged Swallow. This relatively xerophilous swallow had apparently arrived in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch in both 1917 and 1920 before our advent in Death Valley. My first actual notebook entry is for April 4 in 1917, when a pair was coursing over the alfalfa, and April 6 in 1920, when one was seen. The last entry is for April 29 in 1917, when "six or more" were noted. But as indicated by the facts given below, the species probably stays all summer in the near environs of Death Valley and breeds. Usually from 4 to 6 would be checked during a two- or three-hour census; but on April 22 and 28, 1917, twelve were counted. These swallows evidently sometimes roosted at night on the stays of the hay derrick. Five specimens taken, April 5 to 28, 1917: Nos. 28535-39; the one 9 weighed 19.3 grams, the four $ $ 16.3 to 20.0 grams (average 18.3). In 1891, several Rough-winged Swallows were recorded about the reservoir at Furnace Creek Ranch, June 19-21 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 112, 113, 152). I find the Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus., to contain two skins, $ and 2 , both juvenals, full-grown, nos. 137930-31, taken by A. K. Fisher, June 19, 1891, at "Furnace Creek" [Ranch]. Vol. XIII] GRIXXELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 9/ 99. Phainopepla nitens (Swainson). Phainopepla. Mr. Dixon secured an adult male (no. 28540) at Furnace Creek Ranch, May 19, 1917, the only example of the species noted by us or anyone else I know of in Death Valley proper. The conspicuous scarcity of berry-eating birds such as the Phainopepla may be accounted for, in part at least, by the apparent complete absence of mistletoe on the mesquites of D^ath Valley. In Panamint Valley, only 25 miles to the west- ward, though 1200 feet higher, the mesquites were, in April, 1920, heavily laden with mistletoe, and this was fruiting abun- dantly. Phainopeplas and Waxwings were common there. 100. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides Swainson. White-rumped Shrike. Present sparingly in Death Valley in winter, and in April up to the 20th of that month ; but no data so far at hand indi- cate nesting in the below-sea-level area. The information se- cured by us is as follows : Near B. M. — 91, some two miles north of Salt Creek, a 9 (no. 28543, not breeding, fat, weight 48.2 grams) was shot from the tip of an isolated arrowweed, April 18, 1917. The following three instances relate to the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch. April 20, 1917, no. 28544, S , weight 46.9 grams, was shot from a mesquite tip just north of the ranch ; on April 5, 1920, no. 40638, S , testes small, weight 48.1 grams, was shot from the top of the farthest mesquite down towards the "borax" flat west of the ranch, about — 250 feet; on April 7, 1920, no. 40639, $ , testes small, fat, weight 51.9 grams, was shot from an outlying mesquite at the mouth of Furnace Creek wash, about — 50 feet. These four specimens represent one and possibly two of the minor geographic strains in the general geographic race cur- rently called excubitorides. No. 28544 is darker backed than the others, with somewhat smaller and less strongly hooked bill, possibly in transit to some much more northern locality, and not representing the breeding form of the higher parts of the Inyo region. So far as observation went, each of the birds above recorded was alone. 93 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Dane Coolidge saw a Shrike around the ranch in De- cember, 1919. In 1891, at Furnace Creek Ranch, "several [shrikes] were seen the last of January", and a specimen was taken February 3. It was also met with "in the clumps of mesquite, in Death Valley and Mesquite Valley, April 8-18" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 114, 115, 152). The specimen taken is a female, no. 137881, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. It is like Mus. Vert. Zool. no. 28544, commented upon above. 101. Vireosylva gilva swainsonii (Baird). Western Warbling Vireo. Mr. Dixon heard the song of a Warbling Vireo on Furnace Creek Ranch, May 19, 1917. 102. Lanivireo solitarius cassinii (Xantus). Cassin Vireo. One heard singing in a willow on Furnace Creek Ranch, April 23, 1917; secured: No. 28591, S , weight 16.1 grams. 103. Vireo bellii pusillus Coues. California Least Vireo. Found by us in Death Valley but once, at Furnace Creek Ranch, April 10, 1920, when I heard a single one singing per- sistently from a line of mesquites down along an overflow ditch just west of the ranch. The bird was finally secured : No. 40641, S, very fat; testes not fully developed; weight 10.7 grams. In 1891, a specimen was secured at Furnace Creek Ranch, June 20, and the species was considered "not uncommon" in the vicinity (Fisher, 1893, pp. 116, 117, 152). I have ex- amined the following specimens contained in the Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus.: No. 137718, $, "Furnace Creek", June 20, 1891; no. 137719, S, "Furnace Creek", June 21, 1891 ; both collected by A. K. Fisher, but last evidently taken up the creek "above the ranch", and hence probably above sea- level and out of the area covered by the present paper. All three of the Least Vireos examined are referable to pusillus rather than to arisonce. Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY 99 104. Dendroica aestiva rubiginosa (Pallas). Alaska Yellow Warbler. On May 4, 1917, Mr. Dixon observed that Yellow Warblers were present on Furnace Creek Ranch in some numbers. "Half a dozen" at least were seen and one was taken : No, 28616, $ , weight 10.0 g-rams. As is usually the case with the later migrants, a far northern subspecies was represented. 105. Dendroica coronata hooveri McGregor. Alaska Myrtle Warbler. At Furnace Creek Ranch, April 10, 1920, I shot a lone indi- vidual from the top of a new-leafed willow. I had already recognized it among the Audubon Warblers by reason of its coarser, less sharp call-note. The bird (no. 40642) was a male, in incomplete nuptial plumage, very fat, testes small; weight 14.7 grams; wing 75.2 mm.; white on three outer rectrices. 106. Dendroica auduboni auduboni (Townsend). Audubon Warbler. Winter visitant and transient in Death Valley, occurring rather widely. Its tastes are evidently broad, as compared with all other warblers at least; and, when need be, it can put up with conditions in almost any sort of association. At least four individuals were met with among the mesquites at Salt Creek, —200 feet, April 14, 1917. At Triangle Spring, —13 feet, on April 15, the same year, five were heard and seen in flight overhead ; and, later, two appeared in some mesquites near the spring, but seemed not to be attracted by the water. On and in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch this warbler was in evidence almost every day that observations were made. The numbers varied greatly, from just one or two in a two- hour census to as many as 25, the latter number having been checked in three hours on April 16, 1920. The average number checked in 28 censuses was six. The earliest date in- cluded in the notebook records is April 4, 1917, one individual; the latest, April 29. 1917, about ten, two of them in song. 100 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Most of the Audubon Warblers were seen in the cottonwoods and willows on the ranch proper. But numbers were met with in and about the tracts of mesquites, well apart from any in- fluence of the ranch with its irrigating ditches. On certain days individuals would be heard (and then seen) in flight westward high overhead, going from the direction of the pass between the Black and Funeral ranges towards the northern end of the Panamint Mountains. Of course, to be within eye-sight of the ground, such birds were really only a few hundred feet aloft ; but they likely represented only the lowest level of travelling multitudes. Five specimens were taken: Nos. 28622-23, 40643-45, of dates April 6 to 24. Weights: one 9 , 12.0 grams; four S $ , 10.2-14.5 grams (average 12.8). All are in nearly or quite complete nuptial plumage. In characters throughout they are identical with the northwestern subspecies, auduboni, rather than approaching the Rocky Mountain subspecies. In 1891, "a few [Audubon Warblers] were found among the willows bordering the reservoir" at Furnace Creek Ranch during the latter part of January, and again on April 10 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 119, 120, 152). The one specimen taken (male, no. 137410, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus., ''Fur- nace Creek", February 1, 1891) has a long wing (80.7 mm.) ; but whether it is a big extreme of auduboni, or properly refer- able to D. a. memorabilia Oberholser, I am unable to say. 107. Dendroica nigrescens (Townsend). Black-throated Gray Warbler. Found twice, as a transient, at Furnace Creek Ranch : April 11, 1917, one in a cottonwood; April 14, 1920, one, singing persistently, in a mesquite. Both taken: the first, no. 28631, 5, weight 9.5 grams; the second, no. 40646, $, weight 10.0 grams. 108. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis Brewster. Western Yellow-throat. Found by us only on Furnace Creek Ranch, where definitely noted as follows: April 26, 1917, three males in edge of rank Vol. XIII] GRIN NELL— BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY JQl alfalfa; April 10, 1920, two individuals in arrowweed thickets along overflow ditch; April 12 to 17, inclusive (1920), one or two birds each day in alfalfa or arrowweeds. One taken April 12, 1920: No. 40652, S ; fat, weight 12.5 grams. In 1891, "not uncommon" in Furnace Creek Canon and at Bennett Wells, June 19-21 ; thought to be a "summer resident" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 123, 152). I have examined the specimen taken by A. K. Fisher June 21, 1891, at "Furnace Creek" (in this case probably the canon above the ranch and not properly appertaining to Death Valley as now restricted). It is no. 137185, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus., S , and is in worn plumage as if it had bred in the locality. As far as the area below sea-level is concerned the species is probably only a transient. 109. Icteria virens longicauda Lawrence. Long-tailed Chat. Mr. Dixon heard a Chat in a thicket near a duck pond at Furnace Creek Ranch repeatedly on May 4, 1917; this was our only meeting with the species. In 1891, "chats were tolerably common" at Furnace Creek Ranch and "in the caiion above it, June 19-21"; thought to be a "summer resident" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 123, 124, 152). A specimen taken is no. 137159, Biol. Sur\^ coll., U. S. Nat. Mus., S , June 21, 1891 ; "Furnace Creek"; A. K. Fisher. 110. Wilsonia pusilla pileolata (Pallas). Pileolated Warbler. One individual observed closely by me, in mesquites just west of Furnace Creek Ranch, April 29, 1917. 111. Anthus rubescens (Tunstall). American Pipit. Present on Furnace Creek Ranch during most of April of both 1917 and 1920. Usually found in scattering companies on newly sown or mown and freshly irrigated fields. On some days but two could be found ; on other days up to 50 would be checked. And on the morning of April 29, 1917, one single flock of close to 100 was seen to descend in circling flight out of the sky as though just arriving after a prolonged 102 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. flight. On April 18, 1920, about 50, closely massed, were seen to descend from high overhead about sundown and settle in a grain field. Six specimens taken, nos. 28658-62, 40657. Weights of 2S S, 17.3 and 17.5 grams; of 4 9 9, 16.7 to 19.3 grams (average 18.2). One, a $ , taken April 3, is in the midst of the prenuptial molt; in the rest, taken April 19 to 28, the molt irito the cinnamon-breasted summer plumage is complete. At Salt Creek, —200 feet, April 14, 1917, four or more Pipits were noted on damp portions of the alkali flats. In 1891, "a flock of twenty or more was always to be found in the alfalfa fields" at Furnace Creek Ranch during the latter part of January (Fisher, 1893, pp. 125, 152). Two specimens are in Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. : Nos. 137004-05, both 9 9 and taken by A. K. Fisher January 30, 1891. The plumage in both is extraordinarily worn and "alkalied". 112. Oreoscoptes montanus (Townsend). Sage Thrasher. Noted but sparingly, as follows : Near Salt Creek, — 200 feet, April 3, 1920, two were seen in an atriplex wash. On the desert in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch, one was noted on April 3, 1917, one on April 8 of the same year, two on April 5, 1920, and seven on April 7, 1920. In the latter case the birds formed a scattering company which was moving along, chiefly on foot, over a gravelly washfan dotted with desert holly bushes. Two specimens taken, April 3 and 8, 1917: Nos. 28668-69, both males; the first weighed 38.5 grams. In 1891, "one was observed at Mesquite Well", January 20 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 126, 152). 113. Mimus polyglottos leucopterus (Vigors). Western Mockingbird. At Salt Creek, — 200 feet, one was seen and pursued (with- out success) among mesquite bushes on April 14, 1917. Seen just west of Furnace Creek Ranch on April 4, 1917, and April 16, 1920, one in each case, likewise in mesquites. These three Death Valley individuals were astonishingly quiet and shy. Vol. XIII] GRINMELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY \QT^ In 1891, Mockingbirds were seen in various parts of Death Valley proper and "in the northwest ami (Mesquite Valley), April 8-13, but were not seen anywhere in the valley during the trip of June 19-21" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 127, 152). 114. Toxostoma lecontei lecontei Lawrence. Leconte Thrasher, ' Seen in Death Valley only in the mesquite association where it was the "common" resident bird. Noted in the vicinity of Furnace Creek Ranch practically wherever there were mesquites, in some places down nearly to the very edge of the "borax" flat, — 250 feet. This predilection for mesquites in Death Valley seems peculiar when it is recalled that on the Colorado Desert it is the Crissal Thrasher that is restricted to the mesquite association, while the Leconte Thrasher occurs exclusively elsewhere, on the more open desert. Perhaps for any sort of Toxostoma, the mesquites would be most preferred ; the Crissal Thrasher is the species of pronounced adaptation to that association and occurs there to the exclusion of other species where there is more than one species in the general region ; the Crissal is absent in Death Valley, and the Leconte has been able to take over the mesquite habitat because there is no rival thrasher there. As to numbers, "common" is, again, a misleading term. The greatest number checked in any one day was five singing males, on April 7 , 1920, in 4^4 hours on the desert within two miles south of Furnace Creek Ranch. Ordinarily but one to three birds would be seen in a day, no matter how many hours were spent tramping the sands. Seven specimens taken, all adults, of dates April 7 to 29, inclusive : Nos. 28675-79, 40659-60. The one female weighed 64.3 grams; the six males, 58.5 to 64.3 grams (average 60.9). In 1891, "a pair [of Leconte Thrashers] was seen at Ben- nett Wells January 21, others about the middle of April, and a pair with five young on June 21 ; at Furnace Creek [Ranch] one was seen the last of January ;" also seen in Mesquite Valley (Fisher, 1893, pp. 128, 130, 152). J04 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 115. Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus (Say). Rock Wren. Observed by us within the below-sea-level parts of Death Valley, only south of Furnace Creek Ranch, along the base of the Black Mountains, On April 7, 1920, two pairs of Rock Wrens were found some 2 3^ miles south of the ranch, which seemed to have their interests centered in the broken walls of certain ravines; nesting was thought to be under way. On April 11, 1920, a lone individual was seen and heard near the end of "black point", a tract of black lava which juts out from the east into the "borax" flat near B. M. — 223 of the map. And on April 21 and 22, the same year, a singing male was found to have its headquarters in the cliffs close to "bad water" of the map; he came down and "investigated" our camp, which was at the edge of the sink, probably about — 250 feet. One specimen taken: No. 40661, S , April 7; weight, 16.1 grams. In 1891, the Rock Wren was seen only at Mesquite Well, January 20 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 132, 152). 116. Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus Oberholser. Desert Bewick Wren. In 1891, "a specimen was secured at Furnace Creek [Ranch], January 31, and a few individuals were seen among the mesquite thickets at Bennett Wells, and between that place and Saratoga Springs, about the same time" ; recorded under the name bairdi (Fisher, 1893, pp. 134, 135, 152). I have examined the one specimen taken: No. 136664, S , "Furnace Creek", January 31, 1891, A. K. Fisher; it is eremophilus, as now understood. 117. Troglodytes aedon parkmanii Audubon. Western House Wren. Observed only sparsely in April, on or near Furnace Creek Ranch. Stayed in rank alfalfa or thickets of arrowweed and mesquite along the ditches. The actual dates of record were : April 22, 23 and 24, 1917, and April 7, 9 and 13. 1920; but one bird on each occasion. Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY JQS One specimen taken, no. 28709, 9 , April 22, 1917; weight 9.4 grams. 118. Telmatodytes palustris plesius (Oberholser). Western Marsh Wren. Noted at Salt Creek, —200 feet, April 14, 1917 (one indi- vidual in a patch of cane and one in pickle-weed) ; and on Furnace Creek Ranch April 8 and 16, 1920 (one individual each time, in rank grass or alfalfa near edge of irrigated field). Two shot: No. 28713, 9 , Salt Creek, April 14, 1917, weight 9.1 grams; no. 40664, $, Furnace Creek Ranch, April 16, 1920, weight 12.7 grams. In 1891, "a few were seen at Furnace Creek [Ranch] and Bennett Wells" in January; recorded under name paludicola (Fisher, 1893, pp. 136, 152). One is preserved in Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. : No. 136778, $ , Furnace Creek, Jan- uary 31, 1891, A. K. Fisher; this is plesius beyond any doubt. 119. Psaltriparus plumbeus (Baird). Lead-colored Bush-tit, Merely a vagrant on the floor of Death Valley. In the early morning of April 6, 1917, a troupe containing at least six indi- viduals was seen moving north through the cottonwoods on Furnace Creek Ranch, 120. Regulus calendula cineraceus Grinnell. Western Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Observed only in the cottonwoods and willows on Furnace Creek Ranch, or else in the tracts of mesquite and arrowweed within a mile or so north and west of the ranch. Noted almost daily from the 5th to the 30th of April, inclusive, the years 1917 and 1920 both being taken into account. Never more than three individuals were seen in any one day; from one to three would be checked in the usual two- to three-hour census about the ranch. Six specimens taken, nos. 28809-10, 40665-68, from April 6 to 20, inclusive, of the two years. The three males v/eigh 6.2, 7.1 and 6.9 grams; the three females, 5.8, 6.1 and 5.5 105 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. grams. All these skins show in normal degree the features of the subspecies cineraceus. In 1891, "a few were seen at Furnace Creek" Ranch about the first of February and again April 9-12 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 142, 152). 121. Polioptila caerulea obscura Ridgway. Western Gnatcatcher. Noted at Furnace Creek Ranch in April every two or three days, more continuously after the middle of the month. First date of observance there, April 6 ; latest, April 29 — ^both dates in 1917. From one to three of the birds would be checked in a two- or three-hour census; on April 14, 1920, six were counted in 2^ hours. Usually the birds were in mesquites ; in fact only once was a Gnatcatcher seen in any other sort of plant, then in a creosote bush adjacent to mesquites. A pair was noted in a tract of mesquites near Triangle Spring, — 13 feet, each day, April 15 to 17, 1917; and a pair was seen in a mesquite at Salt Creek, — 200 feet, April 3, 1920. Seven specimens taken, nos. 28818-21, 40669-71. The first was a female taken April 6, and weighed 5.2 grams ; the six males, taken April 10 to 21, weighed 5.2 to 6.2 grams (average 5.6). No evidences of actual nesting were obtained in Death Valley proper, though the species does breed in the Upper Sonoran zone of the mountain ranges adjacent. In 1891, a Western Gnatcatcher was secured at Furnace Creek Ranch, January 24 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 143, 144, 152). This is now no. 136467, Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. 122. Planesticus migratorius propinquus (Ridgway). Western Robin. More or less common on Furnace Creek Ranch practically throughout April. The numbers noted day by day varied from as few as one or two up to 45. The latter number were checked during a three-hour census on April 20, 1920; most of the birds on that day and the next were foraging on the newly mown alfalfa fields where they were posed about as if on a lawn. Observed otherwise along the edges of the irrigation Vol. XIII] GRINNELL—BIRD LIFE OF DEATH VALLEY JQ? ditches, sometimes along the overflow streams among the mesquites below the ranch. One bird was seen (April 7, 1920) out on the wash-fan among desert holly bushes, a mile southeast of the ranch ( — 180 feet), in company with some Sage Thrashers. Two Robins were noted among mesquites near Salt Creek, —200 feet, April 3, 1920. On April 6, 1920, and subsequently, an old Indian was seen on Furnace Creek Ranch hunting Robins with bow and arrow, but with what success I did not learn, as whatever was secured was promptly hustled out of sight. The first Robin song was heard on April 24, 1917 ; the temperature at the time registered 98° F. Three specimens secured: No. 28852, April 6, 1917, v/eight 79.0 grams; no. 28853, April 30, 1917, weight 73.6 grams; no. 40674, April 12, 1920, weight 64.8 grams. All were males, with testes small showing no near approach of the breeding season. Mr. Dane Coolidge saw two Robins on a ploughed field on the ranch in December, 1919. In 1891, "a few" Robins were seen at Furnace Creek Ranch the latter part of January and again on April 10 (Fisher, 1893, pp. 146, 147, 152). 123. Sieilia mexicana occidentalis Townsend. Western Bluebird. Observed only as a casual visitant, at Furnace Creek Ranch. On April 22, 1917, just after sundown, a single male in the company of some Western Kingbirds, was seen to descend from high in the sky to the cottonwoods at the ranch. On April 8, 1920, about 7:30 a.m., a lone and very shy male was descried among the mesquites immediately to the north of the ranch. When persistently stalked it started off northward, mounting higher and higher into the sky until the eye could no longer hold it in view. As far as the evidence goes, it indi- cates that the Western Bluebird travels by daylight. 124. Sialia currucoides (Bechstein). Mountain Bluebird. A lone individual was collected at Furnace Creek Ranch, April 4, 1920, where found flitting about a pile of mesquite jQg CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. cord-wood: No. 40675, $ (not in fullest plumage) ; weight, 27.5 grams. In 1891, "a flock was seen at Mesquite Well, January 21". The species was common at Bennett Wells and Furnace Creek Ranch the last of January, at the last place "associated with titlarks and savanna sparrows in the alfalfa fields" ; considered "a common winter resident" (Fisher, 1893, pp. 148, 149, 152). Three skins, all males, are preserved in the Biol. Surv. coll., U. S. Nat. Mus. : No. 136157, Bennett Wells, January 20, 1891; and nos. 136158, 136160, Furnace Creek [Ranch], January 30, 1891. LITERATURE CITED Fisher, A. K. 1893. Report on the ornithology of the Death Valley expedition of 1891, comprising notes on the birds observed in southern California, southern Nevada, and parts of Arizona and and Utah. U. S. Dept. Agric, Div. Orn. and Mam., N. Amer. Fauna, 7, pp. 7-158. Grinnell, J. 1909. Three new song sparrows from California. »Trab. Mus. Nac. Cien. Nat. Ser. Bot. 8: 25. 1915. *«See Evans, Bryologist 20: 61. 1917. Vol. XIII] EVANS— HEPATIC^ OF CALIFORNIA ng attention. Some of the specimens collected by Mrs. Sutliffe in Mill Valley conform pretty closely to these numbers, one having- spores with 24 to 27 projections, another with 21 to 24, and still another with 18 to 24. In other Californian material, however, the spores show from 16 to 20 projections; this is the case, for example, in Howe's No. 6 from Mt. Tamalpais and in Abrams' specimen from Spencer Valley. In still other material the spores have from 26 to 32 projections, as in one oT Mrs. Sutliffe's Mill Valley specimens and in Miss East- wood's specimens from lone. These variations in the number of ridges are shown clearly in Howe's figs. 16, 18 and 19. In Europe the two best known species with cristate spores are F. pimlla (L. ) Dumort. and F. ivondraczeki (Corda) Dumort. In F. pusilla the number of peripheral projections is given as 16 to 18 by Miiller and as 16 to 24 by Macvicar. In F. ivoudracj:cki the numbers are 30 to 32 and 28 to 36, respec- tively. There is no evidence that these species intergrade, and F. zi'ondraczcki seems to be perfectly constant in eastern North America, where F. pusilla is apparently unrepresented. It will be noticed that the Californian specimens include forms with just as few spore-ridges as F. pusilla, others with as many as F. ivondraczcki, and still others with an intermediate number. It might therefore at first appear as if three species were present, F. pusilla, F. zvondraczeki and a species between them, for which the name F. loiigiscta could be retained. It would, however, be difficult, if not impossible, to tell where F. longiscta ended and the other species began, owing to the fact that the number of ridges in the intermediate type of spore tends to vary toward both extremes. In view of these facts it seems advisable to search for dif- ferential characters in the gametophyte. It is well known that the leaves in the various species of Fossombronia are unfortunately very inconstant in size, in shape and in the character of their lobing, and that the pseudoperianths are equally inconstant in their features, so that little can be hoped for here. Differences in habit, however, seem to be more trustworthy and apparently these can be utilized in the present instance. In northern Europe, for example, F. pusilla and F. woudracjdcki seem to be definitely annuals, producing their spores in the late summer and early autumn and presenting 120 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. no gametopliytic adaptations for carrying them through the winter. They thus stand in sharp contrast to such species as r. aiigitlosa Raddi, which produce their spores in the late winter or spring and which seem to be definitely j^erennials. So far as observations go the Californian Fossombronise are all perennial and even, in some cases, produce tuberous thick- enings of the stem, enabling them to withstand periods of dryness. If this perennial habit proves constant the writer suggests that the name F. longiseta be retained for all cristate- spored forms of the region and that a range in the number of peripheral projections from 18 to 32 be admitted. Of course, if it should be demonstrated that the perennial habit or the power to produce tubers was restricted to forais hav- ing a more limited range in the number of surface-ridges, a segregation might be indicated. It should be mentioned in this connection that the spores with few ridges in the Californian specimens, although simu- lating those of F. pusilla in a marked degree, do not abso- lutely agree with them, owing to the fact that the ridges are only 2-3(J' high, while those of F. pusilla are usually 3-5ia high and may be as much as 7[Jl high in the case of the var. dccipwns Corbiere. Since, however, the ridges in poorly developed plants of F. pusilla are often lower, this distinction must be used with caution. It should be mentioned also that Schiffner has recently described and figured, under the name F. loitlcshcrgeri,'^ a i>erennial species from Dalmatia with cristate spores, in which the number of marginal projections is about 25. The spores thus occupy, so far as the number of ridges is concerned, an intermediate position between those of F. pusilla and those of F. wondracneki. Although at first sight F. loitlcshergcri might seem to approach F. longiseta very closely, its spores are considerably larger, measuring 5O-6O1X in diameter, and the ridges are 6-7[Ji. high. Since the spores of F. longiseta are only 40-50[Ji. in diameter and since the ridges are only 2-3[J|. high the two species seem to be amply distinct. "Hedwigia 48: 195. /. 1-14. 1909. Vol. XIII] EVASS—HEPATICJE OF CALIFORNIA \2\ 13. Fossombronia pusilla (L.) Dumort. Stephani's record for California^" was based on specimens collected by Howe, no definite station being mentioned. These particular specimens have not been available for study, but the writer feels convinced that they must represent some form of F. longiseta, probably a fonn in which the number of ridges on the spores was relatively small. Spores of this character are represented in Howe's fig. 18, drawn from a Mill Valley specimen. Until it is definitely established that such spores are associated with annual gametophytes, there seems to be no conclusive reason why F. pusilla should be considered a mem- ber of the Californian flora. In fact, the occurrence of the species in North America is very doubtful, all the records (so far as known) being based on sterile or incorrectly determined specimens. 14. Marsupella sullivantii (De Not.) Evans On rocks. Gold Lake, Plumas County, September, 1900, J. B. Leiberg 5496. New to California; widely distributed in northern countries and previously reported from Wash- ington. 15. Nardia crenulata (Sm.) Lindb. (p. 94) In the writer's opinion the true N. crenulata has not yet been found in the western part of North America. It is re- placed in the Pacific Coast region by the closely related A'^. rubra (Gottsche) Evans,^^ a species which Howe included among the synonyms of A^. crenulata. 16. Nardia obovata (Nees) Lindb. (p. 96) The writer feels convinced that the specimens from Blue Lake, Humboldt County, upon which Howe's record was based, represent Juiigennannia sphoerocarpa Hook, or some closely related species.-* Unfortunately the specimens are too "Mem. Herb. Boissier 16: 25. 1900. "See Bryologist 22: 62. 1919. =*See Rhodora 21: 163. 1919. 122 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. fragmentary for a positive determination, more especially since /. sphcerocarpa is otherwise unknown from California. 17. Jungermannia lanceolata L. On wet soil along a stream, Lower Salmon Lake, Sierra County, October, 1921, Mrs. Sutliffe. New to California; widely distributed in northern regions and previously known from Washington. 18. Jungermannia pendletonii (Pearson) comb. nov. Aploma pcndlctomi Pearson, Bryologist 23: 50. pi. 2. 1920 This interesting species was discovered by George M. Pendleton on the western side of Mt. Shasta, at an altitude of 4000 feet. Specimens collected on May 8, 1910, were distributed by Miss Haynes in her American Hepaticse (No. 90), under the name Juiigennaniiia cordifolia Hook.; the type specimens were collected on August 4, 1917; and still other material is dated April 16, 1919. Only the 1910 and 1919 specimens have been examined by the writer. Although /. pendletonii is amply distinct from /. cordifolia the two species resemble each other very strongly, especially when well developed. Both are characterized by a tufted habit and a dark green color, often blackish when dry and sometimes tinged with a purplish, brownish, or brownish red pigmentation; both show occasional terminal branches of the Frullania type and also intercalary branches, the latter arising near the ventral bases of the leaves; and the leaves in both tend to assume a suberect position, clasping and partially con- cealing the stem. When the leaves are dissected off and spread out flat certain differences at once become apparent. In /. cordifolia the leaves are broadest just above the base and then taper gradu- ally but distinctly to a rounded apex. They are usually de- scribed as "heart-shaped," but the basal portion is rounded on the sides rather than cordate and is even very slightly decur- rent. The leaf-cells are characterized by their thin but often pigmented walls, by the almost complete absence of trigones, Vol. XIII] EVANS— HEPATICJE OF CALIFORNIA J23 and usually by the presence of delicate striolations on the cuticle. In some cases, especially toward the margins of the leaves, very minute trigones with concave sides can be dem- onstrated, but they are so indistinct that they are practically negligible. In J. pendletonii the leaves are approximately orbicular and do not show the tapering found in /. cordifolia, although the rounded basal portions are not dissimilar in the two species. The leaf-cells yield further distinctions. In /. pendletonii the median cells are mostly AO-SO^ long and 25-30ix wide, while the marginal cells are 27-Z2'^ in di- ameter; in /. cordifolia the median cells are mostly 40-45 X 20-30ix, while the marginal cells are only 20-23ix in diam- eter, the cells thus showing a more marked decrease in size in passing from the median portion outward. In /. pendle- tonii, moreover, it is usually possible to demonstrate distinct trigones, especially in the marginal portions of the leaves, but the striolations are very indistinct although not entirely absent. Pearson emphasizes as a characteristic feature of his species the presence of two layers of cells in the basal portion of the leaf, the two layers not being "regularly arranged cell on cell" but crossing each other. This two-layered portion does not stretch entirely across the leaf but occupies a vaguely defined area toward the ventral side. In poorly developed leaves the area is much reduced in size and may be absent altogether. Just how distinctive this feature really is remains to be determined, since very few species of Jung-ermannia have been studied from this particular point of view. It is not, however, absolutely distinctive. The robust Norwegian material of/, cordifolia, for example, collected by E. Jorgensen at Gulen in Sordfjord and distributed in Schiffner's Hepaticae europaeae (No. 394), shows small basal leaf areas where the cells are in two layers; and the same thing is true of some of the more vigorous North American specimens examined by the writer. None of these, however, are comparable in dis- tinctness with the much larger areas found in /. pendletonii. The male inflorescence of /. pendletonii was unknown to Pearson, but he described the perichaetial bracts and perianths and illustrated them in a supplementary note.^^ According "Bryologist 23: 84, 85. f. 1-3. 1920. J24 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. to his account the perianths are considerably shorter than the bracts, and yet he regards them as "normal-sized and perfect." They are said to be four- or five-plicate in the upi^er part, abruptly contracted at the mouth, and entirely free from the bracts, the latter being similar to the leaves. The writer is unable to add to this description, since the specimens at his disposal are wholly sterile, but it seems hardly probable that the perianths studied by Pearson were associated with fer- tilized archegonia. The Californian species of Jungermannia are in need of fur- ther study. In September, 1866, Bolander discovered two species, /. holanderi Gottsche and /. danicola Gottsche, on Mt. Dana, at an altitude of about 3100 meters. Neither of these species has since been collected, and our knowledge concerning them is still unsatisfactory, as Howe has pointed out (pages 99 and 101). According to his descriptions and Gottsche's figures,'^ /. danicola is paroicous and is evidently a member of the /. sphcerocarpa group. /. holanderi, on the contrary, may be an ally of /. pcndlctonii, and Pearson in a recent letter expressed the fear that the two species might prove synony- mous. A very fragmentary specimen of /. bolanderi in the herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden shows that this is probably not the case. The leaves do not show a two- layered area ; neither do they clasp the stem, but spread ob- liquely, as Gottsche's figures show. Howe's description of the perianth in an immature condition is much like Pearson's account of that organ in /. pendletonii, but fully developed perianths might perhaps yield distinctive characters. 19. Jungermannia riparia Tayl. In the rocky bed of a stream, near Willoughby Mine, Sierra County, October, 1921, Mrs. Sutliffe; near Shasta Retreat. Siskiyou County, September 1, 1922. Miss Eastwood. New to California; widely distributed in Europe but previously known in North America from British Columbia and Wash- ington only. =«PubHshed by Underwood, Bot. Gaz. IS: pi. 3, 5. 1888. Vol. XIII] EVANS— HEPATIC^ OF CALIFORNIA 125 20. Lophozia baueriana Schiffn. Reported from California by Conklin,^^ the record being based on a specimen collected at Sisson by George M. Pendle- ton. By most writers L. baueriana is now regarded as a synonym of L. hatcheri (Evans) Steph. 21. Lophozia exisa (Dicks.) Dumort. Lake Lagunitas, Marin County, March, 1922, Mrs. M. L. Campbell 2, in part. New to California; widely distributed in northern regions and previously known from Washington. 22. Lophozia hornschuchiana (Nees) Schiffn. On moist earth, decayed wood and rocks, Lower Salmon Lake and vicinity, October, 1921, Mrs. Sutliffe (nine speci- mens). New to California; widely distributed in northern regions and previously known from Oregon and northward. 23. Lophozia ovata (Dicks.) M. A. Howe (page 111) Most recent writers refer this species to the genus Diplo- phyllum, where it appears under the name D. ovatiim (Dicks.) Steph. 28 4. Chiloscyphus polyanthos (L.) Corda (p. 118) If Schiffner's recent segregations^" are accepted the occur- rence of the true C. polyanthos in California must be regarded as doubtful. The genus is represented in the state, however, by the three species cited below. Some of the specimens enumerated are listed by Howe under the typical form of the species and others under C. polyanthos rividaris (Schrad.) Nees (p. 119). Several of Howe's specimens have not been seen by the writer. "Bryologist 15: 11. 1912. ^See Miss Haynes, Bryologist 21: 89. 1918. =»See Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 29=: 74-116-/'/. /, s. 1912. 126 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 25. Chiloscyphus fragilis (Roth) Schiffn. Without definite locality, H. N. Bolander ; Yosemite Valley, C. M. Cooke.^" 26. Chiloscyphus pallescens (Ehrh.) Dumort. On wet logs, Big Valley Mountains, Modoc County, M. S. Baker and F. P. Nutting. 27. Chiloscyphus rivularis (Schrad.) Loeske. Without definite locality, H. N. Bolander; Humboldt County, Miss K. Inglis; near Lake Lagiinitas, Marin County, Mrs. Sutliffe; Sacramento River, near Sisson, Siskiyou County, M. A. Howe (specimens from this locality were dis- tributed in Underwood & Cook's Hep, Amer., No. 170, as C. polyanthos rivularis); McCloud River country, Siskiyou County and near Shasta Retreat, Siskiyou County, Miss Eastwood; near Salmon, Horse and Packer Lakes, Sierra County, Mrs. Sutliffe (six specimens) ; Horse Corral Meadows and vicinity, Tulare County, F. J. Coulter (five specimens). 28. Cephalozia affinis Lindb. Reported from California by the writer,^^ the record being based on specimens collected by G. M. Pendleton at Sisson, Siskiyou County. 29. Cephalozia divaricata (Sm.) Dumort. (p. 127) During recent years "C. divaricata" and its allies have been intensively studied, especially by the European hepaticologists Schiffner and Douin. As a result of his investigations Douin reached the conclusion that this group of plants was not only generically distinct from Cephalozia but that it represented a distinct and well-marked family, to which he gave the name Cephaloziellacese. He distinguishes six genera, only two of which, Cephaloziella and Prionolobus, are recognized members of the California flora. His latest paper dealing with the »oSte Evans. Rhodora 14: 218. 1912. "Bryologist 17: 89. 1914. Vol. XIII] EVANS— HEPATIC^ OF CALIFORNIA \27 group was published in 1920^*- and has been of great help to the writer in determining the CaHfornian material. Howe's "Cephalosia divaricata" is listed below (at least in part) under the name Cephaloniella byssacea, while his var. scabra (p. 129) is regarded as a synonym of C. papulosa. Two other species are reported for the first time from the state, and a fifth species, C. pahilifolia, although unknown to the writer, is .briefly alluded to. 30. Cephaloziella byssacea (Roth) Warnst. Without definite localities, H. N. Bolander (several speci- mens) ; "Mission Hills," H. N. Bolander; Yosemite Valley, A. W. Evans. 31. Cephaloziella hampezina (Nees) Schiffn. On banks, Wheeler's Sulphur Springs, Ventura County, February, 1921, Miss C. C. Haynes 2041. New to California, but widely distributed in Europe and in most parts of North America. 32. Cephaloziella limprichtii Warnst. On earth. Mill Valley, Marin County, February, 1922, Mrs. M. L. Campbell 3. New to California; widely distrib- uted in northern regions but heretofore known from very few North American localities. The synonymy of the species is greatly confused. 33. Cephaloziella papillosa (Douin) Schiffn. Cazadero, Sonoma County, M. A. Howe; Mill Valley and Lake Lagunitas, Marin County, M. A. Howe; Muir Woods (Redwood Canyon), Marin County, Mrs. M. L. Campbell. Howe's specimens were determined by Douin. a^Mem. Soc. Bot. France 29: 1-90. f. i-g. 1920. 128 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 34. Cephaloziella patulifolia (Steph.) Douin, Mem. Soc. Bot. France 29: 70. 1920 Cephalozia patulifolia Steph. Bull. Herb. Boissier II. 8: 509 This species was based on a specimen collected in California by Bolander, no more definite locality being mentioned in the published descriptions. Through the kindness of Mr. Maxon the writer has had the privilege of studying Bolander's Cepha- loziellse in the U. S. National Herbarium but has found nothing that agrees with Stephani's or Douin's account. According to the latter writer C. patulifolia agrees with C. papulosa in having rough leaves and underleaves but dififers in its autoicous inflorescence. Stephani quotes Howe's var. scabra as a possible synonym of C. patulifolia but Douin cites it definitely under C. papulosa. 35. Cephalozia Turneri (Hook.) Lindb. (p. 129) This species is a representative of the genus Prionolobus and may be known as P. turneri (Hook.) Schiffn. 36. Scapania heterophylla M. A. Howe (p. 155) This interesting Scapania is still known only from the type locality, Sisson, Siskiyou County, where it was collected on submerged stones in a mountain stream by Howe in 1894. Since its description by Howe it has been studied by Miiller,^^ by Stephani^* and by Warnstorf.^^ Miiller admitted its validity but recognized its close relationship to 5. undulata (L. ) Dumort. Stephani regarded it as "ganz deformiert" and sug"- gested that it might perhaps be referable to some other species of the genus, without attempting to settle the matter definitely. Warnstorf went still further and reduced it to varietal rank under 5. undulata, its name thus becoming S. undulata var. heterophylla (M. A. Howe) Warnst. In his opinion the unin- jured leaves at the tips of the stems and branches are quite indistinguishable from those of 5. vtndulata, and for this ''Nova Acta Kais. Leop.-Carol. Akad. Naturf. 83: 137. 1905. «*Sp. Hepat. 4: 138. 1910. ""Hedwigia 63: 111. 1921. Vol. XIII] EVANS— HEPATICJE OF CALIFORNIA \29 reason he considers the reduction justifiable. He makes no mention, however, of the unlobed leaves, which Howe de- scribes as interpolated among the more normal bilobed leaves. Until the significance of these is more fully understood, it seems wisest to keep 5". heterophylla distinct from 6". iindulata. 37. Scapania perlaxa Warnst. Hedwigia 63: 70. 1921 The type specimen of this species is preserved in the Botani- cal Museum at Berlin-Dahlem and was collected by Bolander on wet granite rocks in the Yosemite Valley. The writer has as yet been unable to examine this specimen and has seen no material of Bolander's that agrees with Warnstorf's descrip- tion, although all the Californian Scapaniae in the U. S. National Herbarium have been available for study. According to its author, 6". perlaxa bears a resemblance to 5^. gcniculata Massal., a species which ArnelP" considers a synonym of 5". helvetica Gottsche and scarcely distinct from the widely dis- tributed S. irrigua (Nees) Duniort. The distinctive features emphasized by Warnstorf are the rounded and entire leaf- lobes, the hydrophytic habit, the distant leaves, and the long flagelliform branches. The implied absence of trigones in the leaf-cells might seem to indicate an approach to 5^. iindulata, but further studies are clearly necessary before the relation- ships of the species are adequately established. 38. Scapania subalpina (Nees) Dumort. First recorded from California by Miiller," the following two stations being cited : Yosemite Valley, bank of the Merced River, H. N. Bolander, and Sierras, June, 1864, W. H. Brewer. It is now possible to report the species from three additional localities, namely : "wet bank of stream flowing out of Deer Lake, Sierra County, 6950 ft. alt.," Mrs. Sutliffe; Horse Corral Hill and East Fork of Clover Creek, Tulare County, F. J. Coulter. s^Schwedish. Art. Diplophyllum u. Martinellia 37. 1922. "Nova Acta Kais. Leop.-Carol. Akad. Naturf. 83: 69. 1905. 130 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 39. Porella rivularis (Nees) Trevis. The correct name for this species seems to be P. cordceana (Hiiben.) Evans.^® The additions and subtractions recorded in the preceding notes represent a net addition of 16 species to the flora of CaHfornia since the date of Howe's work. The total number of species now known from the state is thus increased to 101. 8«See Bryologist 22: 72. 1919. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fourth Series Vol. XIII, No. 7, pp. 131-136, pi. 1. March 18, 1924 VII FRESHWATER MOLLUSKS OF EAGLE LAKE, CALIFORNIA BY G. DALLAS HANNA Curator, Department of Invertebrate Paleontology The present paper is based on a collection of freshwater mollusks which was obtained in Eagle Lake, California, in June, 1923, by Mr. Joseph Mailliard, Curator of Ornithol- ogy, California Academy of Sciences. When Mr. Mailliard announced his intention of working in that general region during the early summer, special request was made for him to examine the shores of the lake and collect some shells, if possible. He very kindly went out of his way to do this and was rewarded by securing the material enumerated below. The number of species collected is not large, but in most cases they are represented by many specimens. Eagle Lake is the lowest point of a small isolated drain- age basin in the lava area of Lassen County, northeastern California. It is very irregular in outline but approximately twelve miles long and eight miles wide at the widest part. Pine Creek is the only named tributary and there is no sur- face outlet. It as been described as " . . . large, deep and irregular in outline. Apparently it was once a tributary to Lake Lahontan but is now separated from Honey Lake Basin by a wall of permeable rock, from the base of which 132 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Seb. many springs unite to form a branch of Susan Creek, The water of Eagle Lake is clear and cold. The western and southern shores are largely forested. The surface level is subject to periodical fluctuations, recently rising so high as to submerge a considerable area and kill many large conifers."' Professor Snyder determined from a study of the fishes that the lake once formed a part of the vast Lake Lahontan Basin and the intimate relationship thus established calls for a comprehensive biological study which cannot here be at- tempted. The origin, development, subsidence and physical characteristics of Lake Lahontan have been philosophically described by L C. Russell in 1885.^ A summary of his con- clusions (p. 250) and his map were reproduced by Professor Snyder, who found evidence among the fishes to warrant the questioning of the "second complete dessication" of the basin so far as Pyramid and Winnemucca lakes are concerned. The mollusks furnish further evidence which indicates that these two did not completely disappear during the last sub- sidence. A comprehensive study of the living and fossil mollusks of the entire Lahontan Basin is badly needed to secure data for geological correlation. We know that in it flourished a remarkable fauna of a few very prolific species. These be- longed to genera which were widespread in the west during Pliocene and Pleistocene time. Carinifex was probably the most widely dispersed of all, although Parapholyx, Lanx and Vorticifex occurred over large areas. The vast change of climate during the epochs mentioned caused equally great changes in much of the fauna; most noticeable of these is probably that of the mammals as shown by the bones in tar pits of southern California. The great lake systems of California, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada have largely disappeared on account of the present period of extreme drouth. But they have left a few rem- nants, here and there, in which mollusks continue to thrive •Snyder, J. O,, Bull, U, S, Bureau Fisheries, Vol 35, Doc. 843, 1917, p. 34. "The Fisheries of the Lahontan System of Nevada and Northeastern Cali- fornia." Many references to pertinent literature are contained in this paper, ' U. S. Geol. Surv. Monograph U, 1885, Vol. XIII] HANNA— EAGLE LAKE MOLLUSKS ^33 and these are as interesting to the conchologist as the saber- tooth tiger and the ground sloth are to the mammalogist. The present lake basins are insular in character and display, in their isolation, many of the features of oceanic islands. This is well brought out by Professor Snyder in his study of the fishes and is probably true of several other aquatic groups of animals as well. Since mollusk shells can be had in some cases from the earliest sediments deposited in the basins to the present time, these organisms furnish an excellent opportunity to study questions of variation due to changes in salinity and passing time. But, unfortunately, the field work for such undertak- ing has been far too meager for generalization. Almost the only collections heretofore made in the region have been picked up incidentally by persons engaged in other work. Eagle Lake is one of the more important of these residual bodies of water but almost nothing is known of its geological history. That it has retained at least a portion of its fauna through part of the great lava flow of northeastern Cali- fornia is significant in itself. The mollusks of the lake have scarcely been noticed if one may judge by available records. The Carinifex which lives there has been referred to twice, first as genus only by Stearns in 1891.^ The next record as C. newberryi is by Pilsbry in 1899,'' from collections made by R. C. McGregor, then doing work for the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. The latter also collected Goniobasis nigrina (Lea) in a small spring near the lake and G. acutifilosa Stearns and Flu- minicola seminalis (Hinds) in a small creek at the lake. Further than these I know of no records. 1. Carinifex occidentalis Hanna, new species Plate 1, figures 1-9 Shell similar to C. newberryi (Lea) but smaller for same number of whorls, axial sculpture very much finer, and color much paler; the type has 4^4 whorls including the rounded •Nautilus, Vol. 4, 1891, p. 122. * Nautilus, Vol. 13, 1899, p. 65. 134 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES tPROC. 4th Ser. nuclear whorl; all except this have a sharp carina on the upper shoulder which is indistinctly beaded by crossing of axial sculpture; shoulder very slightly concave; umbilicus wide and bounded externally by a sharp carina. Diameter of type, 13.5 mm.; altitude, 9.3 mm.; diameter of umbilicus 6 mm. Type: No. 1610 and paratypes Nos. 1611-1618, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., collected by Mr. Joseph Mailliard in June, 1923, in Eagle Lake, Lassen County, California. My attention was called to this species in 1920 by Mr, Barbat who, with Mr. T. C. West of the U. S. Forest Ser- vice, collected a few specimens near Galatin on Eagle Lake. The large collection brought in by Mr. Mailliard consists of 479 specimens. Considerable variation in shape is shown in the series and the extremes are figured to aid in recog- nition. In no case did there appear to be a tendency toward malleation of the shell, a character sometimes attributed to changing salinity of the habitat. For some time I have had in preparation a review of the species of the genus Carinifex and, pending its publication, it will be sufficient to state that the Eagle Lake species is most like C. newberryi of the described forms. That species is the type of the genus and has a larger, heavier, darker and more coarsely sculptured shell. The type specimen, fig- ured by Binney, evidently came from "Canoe Creek," Cali- fornia (now called Hat Creek, a tributary of Pit River) and not from Klamath Lake. The species from the latter place was described by E. A. Smith as C. ponsonbii; the form in Clear Lake was named C. newberryi minor by Cooper but is one of the most distinct species. 1. Parapholyx mailliardi Hanna, new species Plate 1, figures 10-24 Shell large and robust, spire depressed, consisting of about 2^ whorls; marked in type specimen only with fine regular lines of growth, grouped into irregular ridges near the aper- ture; in other specimens (as figures show) heavy costae may be developed; imperforate; columella slightly thickened; Vol. XIII] HANNA— EAGLE LAKE MOLLUSKS 135 peristome broadly reflected but with sharp margin. Diam- eter of type, 13.4 mm.; altitude, 9.3 mm. Type: No. 1619; paratypes, Nos. 1620-1634, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., collected by Mr. Joseph Mailliard in June, 1923, in Eagle Lake, Lassen County, California. The large size, depressed spire and reflected peristome serve to distinguish this species from others of the genus. Variation in strength of costs is excessive and parallels a case Hemphill found in shells from the Columbia River, Oregon, at The Dalles. The same is true of shells from Pyramid Lake, Nevada, and the Lahontan Basin generally. P. efusa (Lea), type of the genus from the Sacramento River, does not appear ever to be costate. In all, 250 specimens were secured by Mr. Mailliard for whom the species is named. 3. Planorbis parvus Say The collection contains seventy-five specimens from Eagle Lake, which have been referred to this species. They agree in shape and size with material from a large number of localities in California and Oregon. Equally worthy of note is the fact that constant differences are displayed in the aperture from P. scabiosiis, as pointed out under the de- scription of that form.^ 4. Valvata humeralis Say Over 200 specimens were collected in Eagle Lake. They are remarkably uniform in shape throughout, in marked contrast with V. utahensis Call^ and V. oregonensis Hanna^, which inhabited nearby lakes in a previous geological period. Living examples collected by Hemphill at Old Mission, Idaho, are not distinct from those from Eagle Lake. In placing the species under humeralis I believe I am in accord with the views of Dr. Bryant Walker, who found the species in ° Planorbis scabiosus Hanna, Univ. Oregon Publ., Vol.1, No. 12, 1922, p. (4), pi. 1, figs. 4-6; Pliocene, Warner Lake beds, eastern Oregon. •Call, U. S, Geol. Surv. Bull. II, 1884, p. 44, pi. 6, figs. 1-3. 136 CAUFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES tP«oc. 4th Sek. Utah.^ Mr. Hannibal likewise was of the opinion that the widespread Valvata of the west was referable to humeralis.^ Dr. Pilsbry stated^° that it is a Mexican species and was led to "expect it in suitable places over a considerable territory within our limits. It is quite unlike V. virens of the Rocky Mountain region, having more in common with the northern F. sincera Say." I have compared it directly with a large collection of V. virens from Clear Lake, California, the type locality; the latter species has a high spire and narrow um- bilicus, while the Eagle Lake specimens are more like V. sincera as figured by Walker^^ from Anticosti. 5. Physa, species? A single specimen of Physa occurs in the collection from Eagle Lake. It is not fully adult but is evidently one of the smooth forms. Nomenclature in this genus is so hopelessly confused that identification with named species becomes little more than guess work and the naming of additional ones, be they valid or otherwise, only adds to the difficulties. The same is true of the members of the following genus. 6. Pisidium, species? The collection contains thirteen valves of a species of Pisidium from Eagle Lake. Whether it is a named form or not is impossible to determine at this time. The group, like Physa, needs a competent monographer, and until he arrives it would seem best not to add to his difficulties by naming one or more unrecognizable species out of each lot collected, as sometimes has been done. 'Hanna, Univ. Oregon Publ., Vol. 1, No, 12, 1922, p. (11) pi, 3, figs. 1-8, pi, 4, figs, 1-4. •Nautilus, Vol. 20, 1906, p. 26. •Nautilus, Vol. 23, 1910, p. 105. *" Nautilus, Vol. 19, 1906, p. 105. "Nautilus, Vol, 20, 1906, pi, 1, figs. 4-6, PROC. CAL. ACAD. SCI., 4th Series, Vol. XIII, No. 7. HANNA] Plate 1 ^ii^ 20 \o 15 mi"' Q W 12 21 23 16 Id 24- Fig. 1. Carinifex occidrntalis, type. Fig. 10. Parapholyx mailliardi, type. Figs. 2-9. Carinifex occidentalis, paratypes. Figs. 11-24. Parapholyx mailliardi, paratypes. All figures enlarged 2.3 diameters. .A PROCEEDINaS OF THE RNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fourth Series Vol. XIII, No. 8, pp. 137-145, pis. 2-4. March 18, 1924 VIII NOTES ON SOME ECHINOIDS FROM THE SAN RAFAEL AND TUXPAM BEDS OF THE TAMPICO REGION, MEXICO BY MERLE C. ISRAELSKY Assistant Curator, Department of Invertebrate Paleontology In 1917 DIckerson and Kew published a paper entitled "The Fauna of a Medial Tertiary Formation and the As- sociated Horizons of Northeastern Mexico."^ In that paper Kew described four species as new, and listed sev^en others as previously described species. In his paper on the "Fossil Echini of the West Indies"^ Robert Tracy Jackson questioned the specific determination of a number of the Echinoidea figured in the above paper by Kew. The present short paper is the result of a study initi- ated by reason of Jackson's note. The geologic occurrence of the various species mentioned in the paper by Dickerson and Kew was given as "Upper Oligocene or Miocene." Since that time E. T. Dumble has given us a paper on "The Geology of the Northern End of the Tampico Embayment Area."^ In a footnote (p. 156) ^Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917. " Carnegie Institution of Washington Publ. 306, 1922, footnote on p. 98. 'Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., (4), Vol. 8, No. 4, 1918. J 38 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Skr. Dumble stated: "The nummulltic limestones of the San Rafael beds are ample warrant for their reference to the Oligocene. The Tuxpam beds were included in the Oligo- cene because of the identity of certain ferns. Some of these ferns, however, seem to indicate a later horizon and closer collecting may necessitate a reference of the Tuxpam beds to the Miocene." 1. Cidaris cf. loveni Cotteau* Cidaris cf. loveni Cotteau, Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol, 7, No. S, 1917, in check-list op. p. 128. The specimen listed by Kew is not available for study at this writing. Horizon: San Rafael Beds. * For complete references to Cotteau's species, see Jackson, op. cit. 2. Clypeaster pileus Israelsky, new species Plate 2, fig. 2; plate 3, fig. 2 Clypeaster cubensis Cotteau, Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, p. 132, pi. 20, fig. 1; pi. 21, fig. 1. Not Clypeaster cubensis Cotteau, Kongl. Sven. Vet. Akad. Handl,, Vol. 13, No. 6, 1875, p. 6, fig'd. in Bol. Com. Mapa Geol. Espana, Vol. 22, 1897, p. 33, pi. 6, figs. 1 to 5. Test large, more pointed before than behind, length greater than width, abactinally flat from the ambitus to the extremities of the petals, then gently domed to apex; apical system central; petals well formed, broad, nearly closing distally, the odd anterior petal but slightly longer than the posterior pair, the anterior pair the shortest. Greatest width nearly the same in all petals; at place of greatest width the interporiferous area is about twice as wide as each porif- erous area. Actinal surface flat except for depression around peristome; periproct round, placed a distance slightly more than its diameter from posterior margin. Tubercles over whole of test. Length, 148 mm.; width, 131 mm.; height, 26.5 mm. Type: No. 370, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., collected by E. T. Dumble and W. F. Sands from Tuxpam Beds, Tampico Re- gion, Mexico. Vol. XIII] ISRAELSKY— NOTES ON ECHINOIDS J 39 In his footnote Jackson remarked that the specimen called Clypeaster cubensis by Kew ''appears to be too flattened above the border and has petals too short proportionately to be referred to that species." To this may be added the fact that Cotteau's description calls for a markedly de- pressed actinal surface while the specimen at hand has a sur- face which is quite flat except near the peristome. 3. Clypeaster sanrafaelensis Israelsky, new species Plate 2, figs, la, lb Clypeaster concavus Cotteau, Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, pi. 21, fig. 3; pi. 22, fig. 2. Not Clypeaster concavus Cotteau, Kongl. Sven. Vet. Akad. Handl., Vol. 13, No. 6, 1875, p. 16, pi. 2, figs. 4 to 8. Test small, outline subpentagonal, more attenuated before than behind; ambitus well rounded, upper surface rising gently from ambitus to edge of petals, then more abruptly to apex. Actinal surface gently depressed from margin to peristome; periproct elliptical, transverse diameter the greater, placed a distance slightly greater than its antero- posterior diameter from the posterior margin; apical sys- tem central, five genital pores; ambulacra petaloid, petals elongate, of nearly equal length, widest about one-half dis- tance from apex to nearly closed extremities; inner pores round, outer slightly elongate; tubercles numerous over whole of test. Length, 50.2 mm.; width, 45.7 mm.; height, 1 1.6 mm. Type: No. 372, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., collected by Cummins and Sands from San Rafael Beds, Tampico Re- gion, Mexico. Clypeaster sanrafalensis closely resembles Clypeaster rogersi Morton (as figured by Clark & Twitchell'*) in pro- file, but in outline the new species is more pointed anteriorly. Clypeaster concavus Cotteau is much more concave and thicker marginally than is Clypeaster sanrafalensis, n. sp. *U. S. Geol. Surv. Mon. 54, 1915, p. 136, pi. 64, figs. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. 140 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Seb. 4. Clypeaster, sp. Clypeaster, sp. A, Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, pi. 23, fig. 2; pi. 24, fig. 2. Fig'd. spec. No. 373, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci. Horizon: San Rafael Beds. 5. Scutella cazonensis Kew Scutella cazonensis Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, 1917, p. 132, pi. 19, fig. 1. Type: No. 369, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci. Horizon: Tuxpam Beds. 6. Paraster tampicoensis Israelsky, new species Schizaster clevei Cotteau, Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) Vol. 7, No. S, 1917, pi. 18, figs, la, lb, Ic. Not Schizaster clevei Cotteau, Kongl. Sven. Vet, Akad. Handl., Vol. 13, No. 6, 1875, p. 29, pi. 5, figs. 7, 8, Test of medium size; outline from above ovoid with notch anteriorly; apical system to rear of center; anterior ambulacrum nonpetaloid, deeply sunken on upper surface in a groove which diminishes in depth as the peristome is approached, the interambulacra forming slight ridges on sides of groove; paired petals deeply excavated; anterior pair the longer, slightly flexuous, interporiferous area about equal in width to each poriferous area; posterior pair short, about one-half length of anterior pair, rounded at extremi- ties, interporiferous area equal in width to each poriferous area; posterior interambulacrum ridged; actinal surface gently rounded, peristome semi-lunar, labiate; primary tu- bercles larger on actinal than on abactinal surface, but rare on ambulacra; granules over whole of test; peripetalous fasciole sinuous, jointed to lateral fasciole near extremities of anterior paired petals. Length, 47.8 mm.; width, 43 mm.; height, 25.5 mm. Type: No. 367, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., collected by W. F. Cummins from San Rafael Beds, Tampico Region, Mexico. Vol. XIII] ISRAELSKY— NOTES ON ECHINOIDS \^\ Paraster tampicoensis, n. sp., differs from Paraster clevei (Cotteau) in having lesser relative height and shorter pos- terior petals. Although the apical system is missing in our specimen the new species is tentatively placed in Paraster because of its close resemblance to Paraster clevei and other forms belonging to that genus. 7. Schizaster dumblei Israelsky, new species Schizaster schcrzeri Gabb, Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, pi. 18, fig. 2; pi. 201, fig. 2. Not Schizaster scherzeri Gabb, Journ. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. 8, 1874-81, p. 348, pi. 45, figs. 28, 28a, 28b. Test of medium size; outline from above ovoid with notch anteriorly, apical system posterior to center; viewed in pro- file the specimen shows a well-rounded ambitus except where truncated posteriorly; test highest in the posterior interam- bulacrum; odd anterior ambulacrum deeply sunken, reach- ing two-thirds of the distance to ambitus from the apical system; greatest width nearly one-third of length; posterior paired petals deeply depressed, only one-half length of an- terior; greatest width one-half length; pores of paired petals slit-like; posterior interambulacrum ridge-like between the posterior petals; actinal surface gently rounded; peristome near anterior margin, semi-lunar, labiate. Tubercles over whole of test, primaries largest on actinal side; on plastron tubercles diminish rapidly in size from anterior to posterior portion; peripetalous and lateral fascioles present, but not well preserved. Length, 52 mm.; width, 44 mm.; height, 37 mm. Named after Professor E. T. Dumble in recognition of his contributions to the geological knowledge of this region. Type: No. 368, Mus. Cahf. Acad. Sci., collected by E. T. Dumble and W. F. Cummins from San Rafael Beds, Tam- pico Region, Mexico. The petals of Schizaster dumblei, n. sp., are relatively shorter than those of Schizaster scherzei Gabb, the posterior extremity is broader and the periproct is higher in the steeper posterior truncation. J42 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Proc. 4th Se». 8. Agassizia regia Israelsky, new species Agassizia ctevei Cotteau^ Kew^ Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, pi. 7, figs, la, lb. Not Agassizia clevei Cotteau, Kongl. Sven. Vet. Akad. Handl., Vol. 13, No. 6, 1875, p. 33, pi. 6, figs. 2 to 10. Species of small size, ovoid, more rounded anteriorly than posteriorly; gently arched anteriorly from ambitus to apex; greatest height through apical system, the latter ex- centric posteriorly and containing four genital pores; an- terior ambulacrum non-petaloid in slight furrow; anterior paired petals divergent, shallowly depressed with the an- terior pair of pore rows atrophied as is characteristic of the genus; posterior paired petals short, more depressed than is the anterior pair, width about one-third length; plastron strongly elevated, ornamented with closely spaced scaly tu- bercles; peristome near anterior border, semi-lunar, labiate posteriorly; periproct in the posterior face; marginal fas- ciole passes from below the periproct up to point of juncture with peripetalous fasciole, then downward anteriorly to be- low ambitus in anterior ambulacrum; peripetalous fasciole sinuous, not clearly defined in type; small primary tubercles and intercalated granules over whole of dorsal surface of test. Length, 29.4 mm.; width, 26.5 mm.; height, 22.4 mm. Type: No. ZG2>, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., from Tuxpam Beds, Tampico Region, Mexico. As Jackson (op. cit. ) has suggested, this form is closely related to Agassizia elevata Jackson. It is, however, differ- ent in that it is both higher and broader in relation to its length than is Agassizia elevata. The lateral fasciole is much steeper in Agassizia regia than in Agassizia clevei Cotteau. ' 9. Brissopatagus mexicanus (Kew) Macropneustes mexicanus Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. S, 1917, p. 134, pi. 24, fig. 3; pi. 25, figs, la, lb. Type: No. 375, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., from San Ra- fael Beds. Kew remarked that "This species may be distinguished from other forms of Macropneustes by the curving of the Vol. XIII] ISRAELSKY— NOTES ON BCHINOIDS I43 petals." This character is one belonging to the genus Briss- opatagus Cotteau. Brissopatagus mex'icanus (Kew) resembles Eupatagus {Brissopotagtts) beyrichi Dames^ in the form of the petals and ornamentation. It differs from Dames' species in its larger size, its less attenuated posterior extremity and in minute details. 10. Macropneustes dubius Israelsky, new species Plate 3, fig. 1. Macropneustes antillarum Cotteau, Kew, Proc. Calif Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, pi. 24, fig. 1; pi. 26, figs, la, lb. Not Peripneustes antillarum Cotteau, Kongl. Sven. Vet. Akad. Handl., Vol. 13, No. 6, 1875, p. 39, pi. 7, figs. 1 to 3. Test large, somewhat cordiform, notched anteriorly, truncated posteriorly; ambitus well rounded; apical system well forward of center of test, contains four genital pores; all ambulacra deeply depressed, anterior non-petaloid and with simple pores; paired ambulacra petaloid, poriferous areas wider than interporiferous; anterior petals slightly flexuous, posterior nearly straight; actinal surface nearly flat; peristome near anterior margin, semi-lunar, labiate; peri- proct near top of posterior truncation; primary tubercles crenulate, perforate, limited abactinally to the area circum- scribed by peripetalous fasciole except on borders of an- terior furrow; common on interambulacra actinally; smaller tubercles over whole of test; peripetalous fasciole sinuous, re-entrant in the interradia; subanal fasciole questionable. Length, 88 mm.; width, 75 mm.; height, 46 mm. Type: No. 374, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., from Tuxpam Beds, Tampico Region, Mexico. The new species is much higher proportionately than is Peripneustes antillarum Cotteau.^ Jackson (op. cit., p. 86) remarked regarding Macro- pneustes antillarum (Cotteau) : "This species is distinct * Paleontographica Bd. 25, 1887, p. 82, pi. 11, fig. 2. •Kongl. Sven. Vet. Akad. Handl., Vol. 13, No. 6, 1875, p. 38, pi. 7, figs. 1 to 3. 144 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Sek. from others known in the genus in its great size, its elongate form, elevated anteriorly, and strongly inclined posteriorly, its wide and deep anterior furrow, its paired ambulacral petals very long and deep, its small tubercles and very sin- uous peripetalous fasciole." It would seem that in so far as this to some extent applies also to M. clevei Cotteau and M. dubiiis, n. sp., that this group should be removed from Ma- cropneustes. The type species of Macropneustes, M. deshayesi Agassiz, has a rather simple peripetalous fasciole and the petals are but gently depressed. Why Cotteau should have followed the lead of Duncan and have refuted his seemingly valid genus Peripneustes in- stead of redefining it with the above noted characters as a basis is rather puzzling to the writer. 11. Plagiobrissus cumminsi (Kew) Metalia cumminsi Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, p. 133, pi. 21, fig. 2; pi. 23, fig. 1. Type: No. 371, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., from Tuxpam Beds. Since Kew described this species, H. L. Clark has, as stated by Jackson (op. cit. p. 83) revived the generic name Plagiobrissus Pomel for those species placed in Plagionotus L. Agassiz, the latter name being preoccupied. A. Agassiz in his Revision of the Echini merged this genus with Metalia Gray, a very closely allied group. 12. Paleopneustes elevatus Israelsky, new species Plate 4, figs, la, lb Eupaiagus, sp. Kew, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, check- list op. p. 128. Test large; outline from above ovoid; in profile the an- terior slope much steeper than the posterior; ambitus well rounded; apical system forward of center; four genital pores; odd anterior ambulacrum non-petaloid, flush with surface of test; anterior paired ambulacra sub-petaloid, flush, Vol. XIII] ISRAELSKY— NOTES ON ECHINOIDS 145 reaching nearly to ambitus, very divergent; outer pores longer than the inner; interporiferous area broader than each poriferous area at end of petals; posterior petals slightly longer than anterior, otherwise similar; primary tubercles numerous over whole of upper surface of test, scrobiculate and perforate; secondary and tertiary tubercles also present; underside of test largely missing; marginal fasciole not seen on specimen but as the ambital region is rather worn one may well have been present. Length, 128 mm.; width, 115 mm.; height, approx. 70 mm. Type: No. 1649, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., from San Ra- fael Beds, Tampico Region, Mexico; collector not known. This species is doubtfully placed in Paleopneustes Ag. It at least seemingly belongs to the family Paleopneustida, the genera of which are at the present time not clearly un- derstood. In size the tubercles resemble those found in Paleopneus- tes spectabilis Meijere.^ 13. Lovenia dumblei Kew Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 7, No. 5, 1917, p. 136, pi. 17, figs. 2a to 2c. Type: No. 364, Calif. Acad. Sci. Horizon: Tuxpam Beds. In this beautiful species the scrobicules are not reflected internally by "pursing." This character would place the species with that group termed Sarsella Pomel, which is va- riously considered as a genus or subgenus by different authors of note. ' Siboga-ExpeditJe, Vol. 43, 1904, p. 172, pi. 8, figs. 86 to 90. PROC. CAL. ACAD. SCI., 4th Series, Vol. XIII, No. 8. ISRAELSKYJ Plate 2 .■ms^: w- 1 . l-iy. la. Clyprashr sanrafalcnsis Israelsky, new species; type No. 372 (C. A. S. T\pe Coll.), from San Rafael Beds, Tampico Region, Mexico. Oral vie\v. Fig. lb. Same. Aboial view. Fig. 2. Cly Piaster pilcus Israelsky, new species; type No. 370 (C. A. S. Type Coll.), from Fuxpam Beds, Tampico Region, Mexico. Aboral view. Figures .90 natural size. PROC. CAL. ACAD. SCI., 4th Series, Vol. XIII, No. 8. ISRAELSKYI Plate 3 --^&^m^.m^ Fifr. 1. Maoo/innistt's diihius Israelsky, new species; type 374 (C. A. S. l'\pe Coll.), from Tuxpain Beds, Tainpico Region, Mexico. AI>orai view showing course ot peripetaioiis fasciole. Fifi. 2. Clyptasli) pilrus Israelsky, new species; type No. 370 ( C. A. S. Type Coll.), from Juxpam Beds, Fapico Ket^ion, Mexico. Oral \iew. Fiij;iires .S3 natural si/e. PROC. CAL. ACAD. SCI., 4th Series, Vol. XIII, No. 8. [ISRAELSKYI Plate 4 ■•t lb Fig. la. Palropiiiusli s clr-viitiis Israelsky, new species; type No. 1649 (C. A. S. Type Coll.), fmin San Rafael Beds, Tampico Region, Mexico. Aboral \ie\v. Fig. lb. Same. Side view. Figures .81 natural size. if lor. I "^ OF TH^ \a\ ^ ^ CALlfORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ^^.JL-J^URTH Series Vol. XIII, No. 9, pp. 147-149. March 18, 1924 IX DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF FRESHWATER GASTROPOD MOLLUSK (Scalez petrolia) FROM THE ETCHEGOIN PLIO- CENE OF CALIFORNIA BY G. D. HANNA and E. G. GAYLORD The investigation of oil-bearing and related sediments of the San Joaquin Valley has resulted in the discovery of the organism described herewith. Scalez petrolia, new genus and species Shell calcareous, thin, flattened, ovate, somewhat more pointed at one end, broadly rounded at the other; dorsal posterior slope broadly concave; non- spiral, concentric, nucleus (apex) placed a short distance beneath dorsal margin but almost in center, longitudinally; outer side (Fig. 1) concave, marked with rough, irregular lamellar growth-ridges which are most pro- nounced near ventral margin; inner side (Fig. 2) convex, smooth, covered with a deposit of testaceous material ; near the ventral margin is a depressed groove on the inner side corresponding in position to a simple pallial line of some lamellibranch molusks; dorsal margin, inside marked by a rounded ridge. Length of type, 7.6 mm.; width, S.3 mm. Type: No. 1696, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., from Midlands Oil Company's well No. 1 in the S. W. corner of Sec. 34, T. 32 S., R. 24 E., M. D. M., at a depth of 3306 feet. 148 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Paratypes: Nos. 1697 and 1698, Mus. Calif. Acad. Sci., from Pacific Oil Company's well No. 23, Sec. 2>S, T. 30 S., R. 24 E., M. D. M., at a depth of 3000 feet. This organism has been found widely distributed in west- ern Kern County, California, in the Sunset-Midway oil field. The specimens thus far have been obtained only from one thin layer of mud-shale which lies beneath the uppermost marine member of the Etchegoin Pliocene. This last is in turn overlaid with freshwater and alluvial deposits classed as the Paso Robles (Tulare) Formation. The shells are very abundant in the particular layer where they occur and such characteristically freshwater genera as Anodonta and Amnicola have been found with them at times. They have only been found in cores obtained from oil wells drilled in the region and have not been detected, thus far, in a surface outcrop. Fig. 1. Scalez fetrolia, external, concave side, X 6. Fig. 2. Scalez petrolia, internal, convex side, X 6. At first glance these flattened plates appear to be the shells of bivalve moUusks, or crustaceans, or even the scales of fishes, but they either lack or possess characters which defin- itely exclude them from those groups. The nucleus or apex is not at the margin as usual in bivalve moUusks and crusta- ceans; the concave side faces the exterior and bears lines of growth; the inner surface has no muscle-scars and what would be the hinge line if they were shells of bivalves, shows no evidence of teeth or a true hinge. The fossils have no overlapping areas such as are usually found on scales of fishes; they show no evidence of having been fitted together to form an armor such as may be seen among the ganoids. Vol. XIII] HANNA AND GAYLORD—SCALEZ PETROLIA 149 The best evidence to show that the shells are of gastropod origin lies in the fact that all which have been examined are asymmetrical the same way. This could not be true if they belonged to any of the other groups mentioned. They ap- pear to be the operculums of freshwater gastropods belong- ing in or near the family Amnicolidae and the subfamily Bythininae, as recently defined by Walker,^ but the animals either did not possess shells, or if they did, they must have been composed of chitonous or other material which was' not preserved in the sediments. Among the large number of specimens examined no trace of a spiral shell such as these would fit has been seen. It would seemingly be im- possible for operculums to accumulate in a single layer over so large an area and leave no trace of the shells they closed. At the present time no freshwater naked or chitonous-shelled mollusk is known which is closely related to the above-men- tioned family, but it is not inconceivable that one may have existed during the closing days of the Etchegoin Sea. The same body of water contained many other remarkable or- ganisms. The genus-name Scalez was not obtained from any lin- guistic or other source, but was chosen because of the gen- eral resemblance of the shells to fish scales under which name they were known for some time. The species-name was chosen because of the value the organisms have as an indicator of petroleum-bearing strata. *Umv. Michigan Misc. Publ. No. 6, 1918, p. 27. PROC^EDIINQS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES' Fourth Series Vol. XIII, No. 10, pp. 151-186. March 18, 1924 -, Vol. 4, 1823, p. 83, pi. 360, Eocene, Barton, England, (see Newton, Cat. Oligocene and Eocene, Brit. Mus., p. 172). Moody's name is an exact homonym and must be replaced in accordance with the international rules of nomenclature. 12. Cancellaria siletzensis Anderson, new name Cancellaria rotunda Anderson k Martin, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., Vol. 4, 1914, p. 87, pi. 8, figs. 4a, 4b, Miocene, one-half mile north of Yaquina Baj', Oregon. Not Cancellaria conradiatm rotunda Dall, Trans. Wagner Free Inst. Sci., Vol. 3, pt. 2, 1892, p. 224, pi. 3, fig. 13 (in pt. 1), Miocene, North Carolina. As the name of the Oregon species is a homonym and cannot be used, Mr. F. M. Anderson has proposed a sub- stitution as above. 13. Cancellaria fernandoensis tribulus Nomland Cancellaria fernandoensis tribulus Nomland, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 10, 1917, p. 238, pi. 12, figs. 1, la, Etchegoin Pliocene, Middle California. .|50 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. Not Valuta tribulus Brocchi, Conch. Fossil. Subapennina, 1814, p. 310, pi. 3, fig. 14; Risso, placed this species in Cancellaria. There would seem to be some doubt as to the usefulness of the subspecies tribulus, described by Nomland; the ma- terial upon which it was based was not well preserved and it may be questionable whether it can be distinguished suffi- ciently well to be retained as a definitely named form. At- tention is called to the matter here because the name chosen would probably have to be abandoned if the species should be retained. 14. Cancellaria simiana Hanna, new name Cancellaria crassa Waring, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., Vol. 7, July 30, 1917, p. 66, pi. 9, fig. 5, Chico Cretaceous, Bell's Canyon, Simi Hills, Los Angeles County, California. Not Cancellaria crassa Nomland, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 10, April 19, 1917, p. 237, pi. 12, figs. 7, 7a, Etchegoin Pliocene, Waltham Creek near Coalinga, California. Only three months intervened between the appearance of these two species with the same name. Since the Cretaceous form was the later it requires to be renamed. 15. Cardium gorgasi Hanna, new name Cardium (Lccvicardium) dalli TouLA, Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich-Koniglichen Geologichen Reichsanstalt, Vol. 58, 1908, p. 722, Isthmus of Panama, [Miocene]. Not Cardium dalli Dickerson, 1913, see p. — Not Cardium dalli Heilprin, Trans. Wagner Free Inst Sci., Vol. 1, 1887, p. 131, pi. 16a, fig. 70, Pliocene of Florida. The Gatun species is apparently unfigured,^ but it does not appear to have been renamed, although It Is an exact homo- nym. Very large Gatun collections are being studied by western paleontologists and the species Is therefore renamed here for their use. The specific name is chosen for Surgeon General W. C. Gorgas, whose labors made the cutting of the Panama Canal possible. "Sec Brown and Pilsby Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1911, p. 367. Vol. XIII] HANNA— RECTIFICATIONS OF NOMENCLATURE \(^\ 16. Cardium marysvillensis Dickerson Cardium dalli Dickerson, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 7, 1913, p. 289, pi. 14, figs. 4a, 4b, 4c, Eocene, Marysville Buttes, Sutter County, California. Not Cardium dalli Toula, 1908, see p. — . Not Cardium dalli Heilprin, Trans, Wagner Free Inst. Sci., Vol. 1, 1887, p. 131, pi, 16a, fig. 70, Pliocene of Florida. — Dall, Trans. Wagner Free Inst. Sci., Vol. 3, pt. 5, 1900, p. 1090. Cardium marysvillensis Dickerson, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 9, 1916, p. 482, Dr. Dickerson discovered that his name '^Cardium dalli" was a homonym and renamed the species as shown. Atten- tion is called to it here in order to aid in proper specific ref- erence in the future. 17. Cerithiopsis alternata Gabb Cerit/iiopsis alternata Gabb, Geol. Surv. Calif. Pal., Vol. 1, 1864, p. 116, pi, 21, figs. 114, 114a, Martinez Eocene, California. Not Cerithium alternatum Sowerby, Thes. Conch,, Vol, 2, 1855, p. 872, figs, 70, 73, 179, Philippine Islands, living. There is cause for some doubt as to the reference of Gabb's species to Cerithiopsis; it would seem to be equally well placed in Cerithium and may in fact properly belong there. Attention is called to the earlier name here in hopes that someone who may study the Martinez fauna may be able to determine the matter definitely. 18, Cerithiopsis preussi Hanna, new name Ceriiliiopsis oregonensis Dickerson, Proc, Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., Vol. 4, 1914, p. 121, pi. 11, figs. 5a, 5b, Eocene Roseburg Quadrangle, Oregon. Not Cerithiopsis ? oregonensis Conrad, Am. Journ. Conch., Vol. 1, 1865, p. 151; name for figs. 13, 14, pi. 20, Geol. U. S. Exp. Exped. Atlas, 1849. Conrad's species has been placed in the genus Turritella,^ but that does not permit the name to be used again as Dick- erson proposed because it is an exact homonym. The new name is in honor of Mr, Charles Preuss, the topographer who accompanied Captain J. C, Fremont on his memorable overland journey to Oregon and California in 1843-1844. •Ddl, Trans, Wagner Free, Inst, Sci., Vol. 3, pt. 2, 1892, p, 271; U. S. Geol, Surv. Prof. Paper 59, 1909, p. 78. 162 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 19. Cerithium ? teslaensis Hanna, new name Cerithium hranneri Half. & Ambrose, Nautilus, Vol. 30, 1916, p. 20, Middle Cretaceous, Corral Hollow, Tesla Quadrangle, California. Not Cerithium hranneri White, Arch. Mus. Nat. Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 8, 1887, p. 153, Brazil. Unfortunately Hall & Ambrose failed to illustrate their species and it is very difficult to determine the exact generic relationship without an examination of the original speci- mens. But their name in this case is an exact homonym and must be replaceci or discarded altogether. The writer is in favor of taking the latter course with all unillustrated species, but there appears to be no authority to warrant such action at present. 20. Chama grunskyi Hanna, new name Cliama pacifica Dickerson, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., Vol. 7, 1917, p. 172, pi. 29, fig. 10, "Oligocene" near Vader, Lewis County, Wash- ington. Not Chama pacifica, Broderip, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1834, p. 149, Lord Hood's Island, Pacific Ocean. The name of the Washington species is an exact homonym and the new one is selected in honor of Mr. C. E. Grunsky, President of the California Academy of Sciences. 21. Chrysodomus ? praenominata Hanna, new name Chrysodomus packardi Nomland, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 10, 1917, p. 235, pi. 12, figs. 4, 4a, 4b, Etchegoin Pliocene, California. Not Chrysodomus packardi Weaver, Univ. Wash. Publ. Geo!., Vol. 1, No. 1, 1916, p. 47, pi. 4, figs. 57, 58, near Lincoln Creek Station, Washington. The species described by Nomland requires a new name because the one he chose had already been used by Weaver. The proper generic determination of the California species is difficult to ascertain from the figures and description; it is therefore left questionably in Chrysodomus. Tryon in 1881'' named some fossil shells from Maine "Buccimn?! packardi." It it should be shown that the Wash- ington fossil belongs to Buccinum then it would require a new 'Man. Conch.. Vol. 3, 1831, p. 185. Vol. XIII] HANN'A— RECTIFICATIONS OF NOMENCLATURE |53 name, although Tryon's species cannot be recognized from his ciescription. Such circumstances as this form one of the most discouraging parts of modern taxonomy. 22. Columbella arnoldi Dall Columbella {Anachis) arnoldi Dall, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 34, 1908, p. 250, new name for Columbella {Anachis) minima Arnold, Mem. Calif. Acad. Sci,, Vol. 3, 1903, p. 237, pi. 9, fig. 8, Pleistocene, San Pedro, California. Dr. Dall stated that Arnold's species required a new name because the one given was "several times preoccupied." No citation was given to the literature where one may find an earlier use of the name and in the limited time at my dis- posal I have failed to find any. Nevertheless, it is quite probable that so common a Latin derivative would have been appropriated long ago. 23. Corbula binominata Haniia, new name Corbula tenuis Moody, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 10, No. 4, 1916, p. 59, pi. 2, figs. 4a, 4b, Pliocene, Los Angeles, California. Not Corbula tenuis Sowerby, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1833, p. 36. Not Pachydon tenua Gabb, Amer. Journ. Conch., Vol. 4, 1868, p. 199, pi. 16, figs. 6, 6a, upper Amazon, South America; Dall (Trans. Wagner Free Inst. Sci. Vol. 3, pt. 4, 1898, p. 840) called Gabb's species "Corbula {Anisothyris) tenuis (Gabb)." The California Pliocene species requires to be renamed because it is an exact homonym of the species dating from 1833, even though there might be some question as to the Amazon species falling into Corbula where Dall placed it. 24. Corbula complicata Hanna, new name Corbula dilatata Waring, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Set., Vol. 7, 1917, p. 92, pi. 15, fig. 2, "Tejon" Eocene, McCray Wells, Ventura County, Cali- fornia. Not Corbula dilatata Eichwald, Naturh. Skizze Lithuaen, etc.. 1830, p. 205. The name selected by Waring is an absolute homonym and cannot be used, according to present rules of nomen- clature. There is considerable doubt as to whether the hori- j^4 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Pboc. 4th Ser. zon from which the fossil came is equivalent to the Eocene at the Type locality of the Tejon Group. 25. Crassatellites dalli Weaver Crassatellites dalli Weaver, Univ. Wash. Publ. Geol., Vol. 1, No. 1, 1916, p. 39, pi. 2, figs. 15-18, upper Eocene of Washington. Not Cuna dalli Vanatta, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., Vol. 55, 1903, p. 759, fig, 3, Indian Pass, West Florida, living. Maury^ has placed Vanatta's species from Florida in the genus Crassatellites and considered Cuna as a subgenus, a course previously taken by Dall.^^ If this action be justified then Weaver's species requires to be renamed. But it does not seem that the minute forms usually referred to Cuna can be included with the large Eocene crassatellids in view of the fine distinctions which are used for generic discrim- ination of late years. Therefore it seems to me that the Washington dalli can be considered a valid name, at least for the present. 26. Cryptoconus injucundus Hanna, new name Drillia cooperi Dickerson, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 9, 1916, p. 491, pi. 40, figs. 4a, 4b, Eocene, Marysville Buttes, Sutter County, California. Not Pleurotoma (Dolichotoma) cooperi Arnold, Mem. Calif. Acad. Sci., Vol. 3, 1903, p. 203, pi. 7, fig. 3, upper San Pedro Group, San Pedro, Cali- fornia. It appears that both of the above species belong to the group of turrids which Dall^ has recently referred to the genus Cryptoconus and which have variously been called Surcula, Pleurotoma, Bathytoma, etc. This makes neces- sary the renaming of the Eocene species. 27. Cymbophora intoxicata Hanna, new name Cardium (Proctocardia) lintcum Conrad, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 2nd Sen, Vol. 4, 1858-1860, p. 278, pi. 46, fig. 17, Tippah County, Mississippi. 'Bulletin 34, Amer. Paleo., 1920, p. 77. •a Trans. Wagner Inst., Vol. 3, pt. 3. •Bull. 112, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1922. Vol. XIII] HANNA— RECTIFICATIONS OP NOMENCLATURE 165 Not Cardium linteum Conrad, House Doc. 129, Projected Vol. 3, 33d Con- gress, first Sess. 1855, Appendix to Report of W. P. Blake, p. 9; Pacific R. R. Reports Vol. 5, 1857, p. 320, pi. 2, fig. 1, type Tejon Eocene, Grapevine Creek, Kern County, California. Conrad evidently overlooked the fact that he had already used the name linteum with Cardium when he described the Mississippi fossil. This he later made the type of his new genus Veleda, ^° and Gabb in 1876^^ placed the species in his genus Cymbophora of the Mactrids. Here Johnson left it in his annotated list of the Philadelphia Academy's types. ^^ Whitfield had previously refigured the species^^ as Veleda lintea. 28. Epitonium insecuritum Hanna, new name Epitonium (Boreoscala) ivashingtonensis Weaver & Palmer, Univ. Wash. Publ. Geol., Vol. 1, No. 3, 1922, p. 30, pi. 11, fig. 19, Eocene, McClarety Ranch, near Vader, Lewis County, Washington. Not Epitonium ivas/iingionensis Weaver, Univ. Wash. Publ. Geol., Vol. 1, No. 1, 1916, p. 43, pi. 4, figs, 46, 47, Oligocene, near Lincoln Creek Station, Washington. The appearance of these two species with the same name, in the same series of publications and partially by the same author, is doubtless due to the employment over and over again of the hackneyed name "tvashingtonensis." The prac- tice leads to other bibliographical difficulties when species are transferred to other genera without cross references. The last E. ivashin^tonensis must receive a new name; and the correct rendering of the first is Epitonium washington- ense Weaver. 29. Fossarus barker! Anderson, new name Fossarus dalli Anderson & Martin, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Sen, Vol. 4, 1914, p. 70, pi. 7, figs. 13a, 13b, Lower Miocene of Barker's Ranch, Kern River, Kern County, California. Not Trichotropis dalli Whitfield, U. S. Geol, Surv. Monog, 24, 1895, p. 127, pi. 23, figs. 1-4, Miocene of New Jersey. "Amer. Journ. Conch., Vol. 6, 1871, p. 74. "Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1876, p. 306, "Opt. cit, 1905, p. 17. " Monograph 9, U. S. Geol. Surv. 1885, p. 172, pi. 23, figs. 20, 21. 156 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Seb. That the above species belong to the same genus is evi- dent upon an examination of the figures. Martin^"^ has ap- parently correctly placed the New Jersey form in Fossarus. Mr. F. M. Anderson has therefore supplied the above sub- stitute name. 30. Fusinus arnoldi (Cossmann) Fusus rugosus Trask, Proc. Calif. Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. 1, 1855, p. 41, [Pleistocene], San Pedro, California. — Arnold, Mem. Calif. Acad. Sci., Vol. 3, 1903, p. 226, pi. 4, fig. 7. Fusus arnoldi Cossmann, Rev. Paleozool. Vol. 7, 1903, p. 215; new name for F. rugosus Trask, not Lamarck, 1804. Fusinus traski Dall, Nautilus, Vol. 29, 1915, p. 54; new name for Fusus rugosus Trask, not Lamarck, 1804. — Dall, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 112, 1921, p. 88. Fusus rugosus was used by Lamarck in 1804, Sowerby 1820, and Grateloup 1847, before Trask. Cossmann no- ticed the homonym in 1903 and renamed it F. arnoldi, and was followed by Dall in 1915 who again renamed it F. traski. It is hoped that this notice may aid in stabilizing the name of this important species. 31. Fusinus monksae Dall Fusinus moJiksce Dall, Nautilus, Vol. 29, 1915, p. 55; new name for Fusus robusius Trask, Proc. Calif. Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. 1, 1855, p. 41, [Pleistocene] San Pedro, California. 32. Fusinus obtentus Hanna, new name Fusinus (Priscofusus) Uneatus Dickerson, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geo!., Vol. 7, 1913, p. 281, pi. 11, fig. 11 (not 12 as cited), Eocene, Marysville Buttes, Sutter County, California. Not Fusus Uneatus Quoy, Voyage of the Astrolabe, Zool., Vol. 2, 1832, p, 501, pi. 34, figs. 6-8, New Zealand, living. The previous use of Uneatus for a species of Fusus or Fusinus invalidates the name of the California fossil. Tryon^^ also mentions a Fusus Uneatus of Menke but the reference has not been completed. " Maryland Geol. Surv. Miocene, 1904, p. 245. "Man, Conch., Vol. 3, 1881, p. 68. Vol. XIII] H ANNA— RECTIFICATIONS OF NOMENCLATURE J 57 33. Galeodea tuberculiformis Hanna, new name Morio (Sconsia) tuberculatus Gabb, Geol. Surv. Calif. Pal., Vol. 1, 1864, p. 104, pi. 19, fig. 57, Eocene, Martinez, etc., California. Not Cassidaria tuberculata Risso, Hist. Nat. Eur. Men, Vol. 4, 1826, p. 186. It has been shown^^ that the type species of Cassidaria and Morio is the same as the type species of the earher genus-name, Galeodea, and Sconsia cannot be used for greater than a sub-generic group. The use of the name tiibtrcidata in Cassidaria by Risso invalidates it in Galeodea providing the earlier name represents a real species of this generic relationship. This it evidently does if we may rely upon the writings of other European paleontologists. 34. Gilbertina Ulrich Gilbertina Ulrich, Harriman, Alaska Exp., Vol. 4, 1910, p. 140; Type G. spiralis. Not Gilbertina Jordan & Starks, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2nd Sen, Vol. 5, 1895, p. 811, pi. 86; for G. sigalutes, n. sp. of fish from Puget Sound. Ulrich questioned the plant relationship of this supposed fucoid. If subsequent study should show it to be of animal origin a new genus-name will be required because of a prior Gilbertina in zoology. 35. Glycymeris larvata Hanna, new name Glycymeris conradi Dall, U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 59, 1909, p. 107, pi. 11, fig. 2, Miocene [Pliocene] Coos Bay, Oregon. Not Axinea conradi Whitfield, U. S. Geol. Surv. Monog. 9, 1885, p. 230, pi. 29, figs. 10-11, New Jersey. • Whitfield's reference of his New Jersey species to Axinea was in accordance with best usage at the time he wrote but the name Glycymeris has replaced it of late years. There- fore Dall's Oregon species requires a different name and larvata is hereby proposed. 36. Glyphostoma oscilata Hanna, new name Pleurotoma (Clathurella, Glyphostoma^ dalli Bose & Toula, Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich-Koniglichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt, Vol. 60, 1910, p. 252, pi. 13, fig. 27, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, [Miocene ?] "Dall, U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 59, 1909, p. 64, etc. 2^g CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Pkoc. 4th Ser. Not Pleurotoma (Borsonia) dalli Arnold, 1903, see p. — . Not Pleurotoma dalli Verrill & Smith, Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci., Vol. 5, 1882, p. 451, pi. 57, figs. 1, la, East Coast of North America, living. The Tehuantepec fossil was given a name which unfor- tunately had been used at least twice previously. Since very considerable collections from that general region have lately come to western museums for study the species is hereby renamed for use in forthcoming reports. 37. Gyrodes insecuris Hanna, new name Natica {Gyrodes) lineata Dickerson, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 8, 1914, p. 141, pi. 13, figs. 3a, 3b, Martinez Eocene, near Stewartsville, California. Not Natica lineata Lamarck, An. sans Vert. Deshayes Ed. Vol. 8, 1838, p. 640; vide Tryon, Man. Conch, Vol. 8, 1886, pp. 29, 86, Philippines, living. Dlckerson's name Is an exact homonym and therefore can- not stand In zoological literature, according to the rules of nomenclature. 38. Gyrodes negligentus Hanna, new name Natica {Gyrodes) alveata Conrad, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci., 2nd Sen, Vol. 4, 1858-60, p. 289, pi. 46, fig. 45, Tippah County, Mississippi. Not Natica alveata Conrad, House Doc. 129, Projected Vol. 3, 33rd Congress, 1st Sess., 1855, App. to Prelim. Geol. Report of W. P. Blake, p. 10. — Conrad, Pacific R. R. Reports, Vol. 5, 1857, p. 321, pi. 2, figs. 8, 8a, Tejon Eocene, Grapevine Creek, Kern County, California. In describing the Mississippi fossil Conrad evidently over- looked the fact that he had previously used the same name for a California Eocene species which properly belongs in Amauropsis or, as lately suggested, Ampullospira. A new name is therefore needed for the eastern species. 39. Hamites klamathensis Anderson, new name Hamites armatus Anderson, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2nd Sen, Vol. 2, 1902, p. 89, pi. 5, figs. 130-132, Lower Chico Cretaceous near Henley, Siskiyou County, California. Not Hamites armatus Sowerby, Mineral Conchology Vol. 2, 1817, p. 153, pi. 163; Vol. 3, 1821, p. 59, pi. 234, fig. 2.— d'Orbigny, Paleont. France, Tern Cret. Vol. 1, p. 547, pi. 135. Vol. XIII] HANNA— RECTIFICATIONS OF NOMENCLATURE {gQ 40. Hamites siskiyouensis Anderson, new name Hamites ellipticus Andersov, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2nd Ser., Vol. 2, 1902, p. 87, pi. 3, figs. 102-103 ; pi. 10, fig. 191, Chico Cretaceous, Southern Oregon. Not Hamites ellipticus Mantell, Geol. Sussex, 1822, p. 123, pi. 23, fig, 9. 41. Leda denominata Hanna, new name Leda milleri Dickerson, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 8, 1914, p. 123, pi. 7, fig. 4, Martinez Eocene, near Stewartsville, California. Not Nuculana milleri Gabb, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 2nd Ser., Vol. 8, 1881, p. 346, pi. 44, figs. 22, 22a, Sapote, Costa Rica. There is still some difference of opinion as to whether Leda or Nuculana shall be the genus-name of this well- known group of Pelecypoda. But in either case the Mar- tinez species must have a different name because it obviously is generically related to the Costa Rican form but specifically different. 42. Leda polynominata Hanna, new name Corbula gahhii Dall, Trans. Wagner Free Inst. Sci., 'Vol. 3, pt. 4, 1898, p. 840 ; new name for Corbula alcBJormis Gabb, Geol. Surv. Calif, Paleo., Vol. 2, 1869, p. 177, pi. 29, fig. 63, Martinez or Tejon Eocene near Lower Lake Village, Lake County, California, which Stanton, (U. S. Geol. Surv. 17th Annual Report, 1895-1896, p, 1040, pi. 64, figs. 6, 7,) determined to belong to the genus Leda. Not Corbula aliformis Conrad, Amer. Journ. Conch., Vol. 2, 1866, p. 76. Not Leda gabbii Gabb, Geol. Surv. Calif. Pal,, Vol. 2, 1869, p. 197. The large species of Leda from Lower Lake, Lake County, California, is involved in a nomenclatorial tangle to an excessive degree. The only way out, in accordance with the rules, seems to be to rename it. Gabb de- scribed it as Corbula alaformis, but Dall renamed it Corbula gabbii because of the prior Corbula aliformis of Conrad. Stanton in 1895-96 discovered that it belonged to the genus Leda and not Corbula, and in this decision he has been followed by Dickerson.^^ But there was already a species named gabbii in Leda when Dall changed the name "Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 8, 1914, p. 107. 170 CAUFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. of alafomis. It is therefore Impossible to use the name gabbii for the Lower Lake species. The first Leda gabbii Gabb dates from 1869 and was applied to a fossil from various California formations which had in 1864 been re- corded questionably by Gabb as his Leda protexta of New Jersey. Conrad cannot be considered as having had any hand in the naming of the species gabbii; his name appeared as Niiculana gabbi^^ and is an absolute nomen nudum; there- fore it has no standing whatsoever in literature. 43. Lucina invalida Hanna, new name Lucina cretacea Whitfield, U. S. Geol. Surv. Monog. 9, 1885, p. 129, pi. 18, figs. 23-25, Eocene Haddonfield, New Jersey; name given to a shell figured by Conrad, Am. Journ. Conch., Vol. 5, pi. 9, fig. 14. Not ? Lucina cretacea Gabb, Geol. Surv. Calif. Pal., Vol. 1, 1864, p. 177, pi. 30, fig. 255; Vol. 2, 1869, p. 243, Eocene, vicinity of Mt. Diablo, Cali- fornia. Whitfield must be cited as the author of the name of the New Jersey fossil; Conrad published a figure but only named the shell on a museum label. It seems to be a fairly impor- tant species of the east coast and is therefore renamed herein as above. 44. Marginella instabilata Hanna, new name Marginella pacifica Dickerson, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., Vol. 7, 1917, p. 178, pi. 31, fig. 2, Oligocene, Greece Ranch, near Vader, Washington. Not Marginella pacifica Pease, Amer. Journ. Conch., Vol. 3, 1868, p. 280, pi. 23, fig. 20, Paumotus Islands, living. The name of the Washington species is an exact homonym and must therefore be replaced to conform to the rules of nomenclature. 45. Melanella gabbiana (Anderson & Martin) Eulimella gabbiana Anderson & Martin, Proc. Calif. Acad Sci., 4th Ser., Vol. 4, 1914, p. 68, pi. 7, fig. 20, Lower Miocene, Kern County, California- Melanella {Melanella) gabbiana (Anderson & Martin), Bartsch, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 53, 1917, p. 316, pi. 38, fig. 3. " Check-list Eocene and Oliogcene Fossils. Smith. Miscellaneous collection No. 200, 1866, p. 3. Vol. XIII] • HANNA— RECTIFICATIONS OF NOMENCLATURE \'J\ The notice of transfer of this species to Melanella is in- cluded herein because it might otherwise escape attention. The fossil came from a verj^ important California forma- tion, Lower Miocene of Kern River, Kern County. 46. Melanella johnsoni Hanna, new name Melanella gabbiana Pilsbry & Johnson^ Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1917, p. 182, "Oligocene" San Domingo. Not' Eulimella gabbiana Anderson & Martin, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Sen, Vol. 4, 1914, p. 68, pi. 7, fig. 20, Lower Miocene, Kern County, California. Bartsch (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 53, 1917, p. 316, pi. 38, fig. 3) has placed this species in the genus Melanella. From the above it will be seen that a new name is re- quired for the San Domingo species. The one selected is chosen in honor of Dr. Charles W. Johnson, the distin- guished Curator of the Boston Society of Natural History. 47. Modiolus complicatus Hanna, new name Modiola {Lithodomus ? ) inflata Whitfield, U. S. Geol. Surv. Monog. 9, 1885, p. 197, pi. 26, figs. 1, 2, New Jersey. Not Mytilus inflatus, Toumey & Holmes, Pleis. Foss. South Carolina, 1855, p. 33, pi. 14, fig. 3. Whitfield^^ and DalP have both considered the South Carolina fossil to belong to the genus Modiolus, which makes necessary a new name for the New Jersey form. 48. Modiolus trinominata Hanna, new name Modiolus inflatus Dall, U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 59, 1909, p. 114, pi. 12, figs. 8, 9, Miocene, [Pliocene], Coos Bay, Oregon. Not Mytilus inflatus Toumey & Holmes, Pleis. Foss. South Carolina, 1855, p. 33, pi. 14, fig. 3, which Whitfield (U. S. Geol. Surv-. Monog. 24, 1895, p. 39, pi. 6, figs. 3, 4;) and Dall (Trans. Wag. Free Inst. Sci., Vol. 3, pt. 4, 1898, p. 793;) have placed in Modiolus. Not Modiola {Lithodomus?) inflata Whitfield, U. S. Geol. Surv. Monog. 9, 1885, p. 197, pi. 26, figs. 1, 2, New Jersey. It appears from the literature that the name of the Ore- gon fossil is twice preoccupied; it therefore requires a new '"•U. S Geol. Surv. Monog. 24, 1895, p. 39, pi. 6, figs. 3, 4. " Trans. Wag. Free Inst. Sci., Vol. 3, pt. 4, 1898, p. 793. 172 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ski. name. Dall considered the Coos Bay formation Miocene, but Howe has lately determined it to be Pliocene. 49. Murex calamitus Hanna, new name Murex vaugliani Dickerson, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., Vol. 7, 4th Ser., 1917, p. 174, pi. 30, figs. 3a, 3b, Oligocene, Greece Ranch near Vader, Lewis County, Washington. Not Murex vaugliani Maury, Bull. Am. Paleo., Vol. 4, No. 21, 1910, pp. 143- 144, Oligocene, Florida. Although these two species were named for different per- sons the name of the Washington fossil is an exact homonym and according to the rules cannot stand. 50. Murex (Orinebra) rodeoensis Clark, new name Murex (Ocinebra) fackardi Clark, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 8, August 30, 1915, p. SOI, pi. 69, figs. 2, 11, Upper Miocene, (San Pablo), Cali- fornia. Not Murex pachardi Dickerson, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Sen, Vol. 5, June 15, 1915, p. 69, pi. 9, figs, 6a, 6b, Upper Eocene, Cowlitz River, Vader, Washington. Only a few weeks intervened between the duplication of the name Murex packardi, and the Miocene species, being the latest to appear, requires a new name; this has been supplied, as above, by Dr. Bruce L. Clark of the Depart- ment of Paleontology, University of California. 51. Murex temalentus Hanna, new name Murex {Ocinebra) concinna Nomland, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 10, No. 14, 1917, p. 236, pi. 12, figs. 6, 6a, Etchegoin Pliocene, California. Not Murex concinnus Reeve, 1845, Conch., Icon. Sp. 104, pi. 25. — Tryou, Man. Conch., Vol. 2, 1880, p. 227. The name of the Pliocene species of California is ho- monymous with a living form and therefore cannot be ac- cepted, according to the rules of nomenclature. 52. Mya inopia Hanna, new name Cryptomya ovalis Conrad, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., Vol. 8, 1856, pp. 312-316.— Conrad, Pac. R. R. Reports, Vol. 6, 1857, p. 69, 73, Monterey, California. — Arnold, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. 398, pi. 44, fig. 5. — Arnold, Bull. 396, U. S. Geol. Surv. 1909, pi. 22, fig. 5, cited from "Etchegoin," California. Vol. XIII] HANNA— RECTIFICATIONS OP NOMENCLATURE 173 Mya {Cryptomya) ovalis Conrad, Clark, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 8, 1915, p. 479, pi. 60, figs. 3, 4, cited from San Pablo, Miocene, California. Not Mya ovalis Pultenay, Cat. Birds, Shells, etc., Dorsetshire, 1799, p. 27. Not Mya ovalis Roemer, Nord. Oolith, [Verst. Norddent, Kreidegeb.] 1839, p. 42, pi. 19, fig. 28. Not Mya ovalis Martin, see Koninck, Desc. des Anim. Fossil, Belgique, 1844, (1841) p. 74, pi. H, fig. 2; which was a new name for Unio uniformis Sowerby, not Goldfuss. It is unfortunate that so well known a fossil as this should require a new name because of its prior use in an ancient, obscure publication; but no other course appears possible if the rules of nomenclature are to be adhered to. In the ref- erences to Roemer and Koninck the bracketed matter is taken from Sherborn, Index Animalium, 1922. It also ap- pears that Sowerby named a species "Mya ovalis prior to the use of the name by Conrad. 53. "Natica andersoni" Clark Natica {Neverita) recluziana andersoni Clark, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 11, 1918, p. 168, pi. 29, figs. 3, 10, 11, 12, San Lorenzo, Oligocenc Cali- fornia, Not Natica anderssoni Strebel, ZooI. Jahr. Syst, Vol. 24, 1906, p. 142, Mag- alhaen. The case of this subspecies is similar to Siphonalia clarki Dickerson. It is my belief that the differences of spelling are sufficient to warrant their retention, although cases of replacement for less substantial reasons might be cited. 54. Natica fiasco Hanna, new name Neverita globosa Gahb, Geol. Surv. Calif. Pal., Vol. 2, 1869, p. 161, pi. 27, fig. 39, Eocene near New Idria, California, Not Natica globosa King, Zool. Journ., Vol. 5, 1830-1831, p. 344, Straits of Magellan, living; Tryon stated this is N. patigonica Philippi. Not Natica globosa Jeffreys, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1885, p. 33, "Morocco and Cape Verde Islands." Gabb's species questionably belongs to the sub-group Neverita, which even modern conchologists fail to raise to higher rank than a sub-genus. The only safe procedure under such circumstances is to leave the species in Natica. Attempts to place fossil species in a classification based upon J 74 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Seh. living forms can be carried so far as to produce endless confusion. In this case the western fossil has a name pre- occupied twice in Natica. It therefore cannot be transferred without a new name, but this seems the lesser of two evils. 55. Odostomia andersoni (Bartsch) Odostomia (Evalea) andersoni Bartsch, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 52, 1917, p. 667. Eulimella californica Anderson & Martin, Proc. Calif. Acad, of Sci., 4th Ser,, Vol. 4, 1914, p. 67, pi. 7, figs. 19a, 19b, 19c, Lower Miocene, Kern River, California. Not Odostomia (Evalea) californica Dall & Bartsch, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 68, 1909, p. 208, pi. 24, fig. 2, San Diego, California. 56. Odostomia ochsneri (Anderson & Martin) Eulimella ochsneri Anderson & Martin, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., Vol. 4, 1914, p. 66, pi. 7, figs. 23a, 23 b. Barkers Ranch, Kern County, California, Lower Miocene. An examination of the cotypes, Nos. 138, 139 (C. A. S. Coll.) shows that this species belongs with E. andersoni in Odostomia (Evalea) as defined by Bartsch. The name therefore does not conflict with Melanella ochsneri Bartsch^^ from the Galapagos Islands, as might be suspected from the original generic reference. The reference to the Uni- versity of California as being the depository of the original material of M. ochsneri Bartsch is an error due to the trans- mission of wrong data with the collection by the person who then had the collection in charge. The material is a part of the collection made by the California Academy of Sciences Expedition to the Galapagos Islands in 1905-1906, and as received back at the Academy consists of 14 speci- mens of the species labelled "Banks Bay, Albemarle Island," and 17 specimens labelled "Tagus Cove, Albemarle Island." No designated type was received. 57. "Ostrea corrugata" Nomland Ostrea titan corrugata Nomland, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 10, 1917, p. 306, pi. 16, fig. 1, pi. 17, fig. 1, Santa Margarita Miocene near Coalinga, California. "U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc, Vol. 53, 1917, p. 305, pi. 35, fig. 1. Vol. XIII] HANNA— RECTIFICATIONS OP NOMENCLATURE I75 Not Ostrea corrugata Brocchi, Conch. Fossil Subapennina, 1814, p. 670, pi. 16, figs. 14-15. The name chosen by Nomland for the California fossil is an exact homonym and therefore unacceptable in accord- ance with the present rules of nomenclature. The sub- species is believed to be merely a variation of the protean O. titan, well worth recording as such, but scarcely deserv- ino: of a name. 'to 58. "Pachymelania" White Pacltymelania White, U. S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 128, 1895, p. 50; Type P. cleburni; four other species referred to genus. Not Pachymelania E. A. Smith, Conchologist, Vol. 2, 1893, pp. 141-142; new name to be applied to Nerita aurita Miiller to replace Claviger Haldeman. White's name is preoccupied by two years. In his descrip- tion of it he stated that the group "differs from that genus [Goniobasis] in the moderate massiveness of the test and in a general habitus which is readily observable but difficultly describable." It would seem that when a group differs so little that the characters cannot be pointed out they are not worth considering in a scheme of nomenclature. Therefore I will not encumber literature with a new name. Haldeman's Claviger has been a popular target for criti- cism. It is preoccupied by Preyssler, 1790 (in Coleoptera), and has been renamed at least three times. Pachymelania E. A. Smith, 1893; Hemipirena, Roverato, 1899; and Clavigerina, von Martens, 1903. 59. Pecten binominatus Hanna, new name Pecten (Pseudamusium) anderson't Dall, Sci. Res. Canadian Arctic Exp. Vol. 8, 1918, Part A, p. 19a, pi. 2, figs. 7, 8, Dolphin and Union Strait, Arctic Ocean; (Reference from Dall, Bull. 112, U. S. Nat Mus. 1922.) Not Pecten {Plagiopecten) andersoni Arnold, U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 47, 1906, p. 82, pi. 26, figs. 5-8, Miocene, Zayante Creek, Santa Cruz County, California. The name of the recently described living species from the Arctic Ocean conflicts with the well-known Miocene species of California; a new name is therefore required. 176 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 60. Pecten calamitus Hanna, new name Pecten {Propeamusium) lev'is Moody, Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., Vol. 10, 1916, p. 56, pi. 2, figs. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, Fernando Pliocene, Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. Not Ostrea lavis Maton & Rakett, Trans. Linn. Soc, Vol. 8, 1807, p. 100; this is Pecten tigrinus Muller according to Von Teppner, Foss. Cat. pt. 15, 1922, p. 141. Not Pecten lce