VOL. II. ] Nesting Time of Birds. 171 
sparrow (Spizella socialis arizone), which probably came during 
the first week of April, have begun nest building, but it is not until 
the next month that we are to look for the climax of their breeding 
period. Bullock’s oriole ( /terus dullocki) western flycatcher, ( £m- 
pidonasx difficilis), black pewee (Sayornis nigricans), and California 
partridge ( Callipepla californica), are the only remaining species 
that commence to breed at the close of April. 
During the month of May the height of the breeding season is 
reached. The month begins with a miscellaneous assortment of 
early and late breeders. The list includes, besides those species 
just mentioned as commencing to nest during the latter half of 
April, such species as the western screech owl, Anna’s hummer, 
California jay, California bush-tit, sparrow hawk and burrowing 
owl. In early May the western meadow lark (Sturnella magna 
neglecta) is breeding, although I suspect that it is the second set, 
now first discovered in cutting the grain. The lazuli bunting ( Pas- 
Serina amena), which arrives from the first to the middle of April, 
has often laid its complement of eggs by the first of May. The 
western wood pewee ( Contopus richardsonit) is not very common as 
a summer resident, but Mr. Bryant records a set containing large 
embryos taken on May 6, 1881, indicating that the bird probably 
begins to breed during the latter part of April. 
Another uncommon breeder of early May is Lawrence’s gold- 
finch (.Spinus lawrencei), the earliest record of its breeding having 
been made by Mr. Bryant, who took a set of eggs May 8, 1877. 
About this same time the swallows (Petrochelidon lunifrons and 
Chelidon erythrogaster) begin to breed; fresh eggs being first found 
about the fifth or sixth of the month, and from that time on until 
the middle of June. These later records doubtless belong to the 
second brood, although I am not certain that either species in- 
variably raises two broods a year in this locality. The summer 
- warbler (Dendroica estiva), russet-backed thrush ( 7urdus ustu- 
latus) and black-headed grosbeak ( Habia melanocephala), three of 
the typical summer breeders (in distinction from spring breeders) 
of this locality, also lay their earlier sets during the first half of 
May. During the same period an occasional set of American gold- 
finch’s eggs is recorded, the earliest date being May 11, 1877. 
- Although the earliest record of the nesting of Bryant's sparrow 
(Ammodramus sandwichensis bryanti) is May 12, 1878, it is highly 
