148 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



Department of Ornithology 



Active work in this department has been carried on throughout the 

 year. While most of this work has consisted in the classification, regis- 

 tration, and arrangement of specimens, several field trips were undertaken 

 and some valuable contributions made to the knowledge of the distribu- 

 tion and migration of our birds. Two weeks in the early spring were 

 spent in Monterey County, California, for the purpose of observing the 

 unusual influx of Clarke's Nutcrackers reported from there, and for 

 studying the j uncos pf that part of the state, and some valuable records 

 were obtained. Another field trip was made in company with Dr. G. 

 Dallas Hanna, of the Department of Paleontology, to whose valuable 

 assistance this department is greatly indebted, into the region near "The 

 Pinnacles," San Benito County, California, and to Pacheco and Panoche 

 passes in order to note migrations. Interesting data were secured on this 

 trip in connection with the spring migration of certain species and many 

 specimens of birds and eggs were brought back. 



The principal field trip of the year was to Siskiyou County, California, 

 made in company with Mr. F. G. Gilchrist and Mr. Frank C. Holman, as 

 assistants. Five weeks were passed in the field, the greater portion in 

 camp at various spots. Although the very dry season had an unfortunate 

 influence upon the bird life of the localities visited, the expedition gath- 

 ered a number of specimens from a but little investigated part of the 

 state, better defined the known habitats of several species of birds, and 

 obtained some good records. The regions visited were localities west 

 and north of the base of Mt. Shasta; Forest House Mountain, west of 

 Yreka; and the Salmon Mountains, west of Greenview. Thanks are 

 especially due to Mr. F. C. Holman, in the capacity of volunteer assistant, 

 for his efforts to make the expedition a success. 



Another field trip was made, in company with Mr. Chase Littlejohn, 

 present assistant in this department, to the Mt. St. Helena range in Lake 

 County, California, further to study the fall migration of fox sparrows. 

 Fifteen days were spent in this work, and some very interesting observa- 

 tions were made, and numerous specimens secured. 



The Curatorial work of the department has been principally that of 

 cataloging and arranging specimens and bringing the card index up to 

 date. The large increase in the number of specimens has necessitated the 

 addition of fifteen metal cases for their installation, but, unless the near 

 future brings unexpected fortune in the way of large donations, there 

 should now be case room for the coming year, especially as a few cases 

 will be freed from the mammalogical room. 



The illness of Mr. Wm. Heim, who was mounting birds for the sea- 

 sonal groups of the birds of Golden Gate Park, has delayed that work 

 so that it is not yet systematically arranged, but a number of the birds 

 of the park are in the cases, properly labelled, so that the public may 

 profit thereby. Mr. Littlejohn has more specimens under way, and it is 

 hoped to have these groups in fairly good shape within the next few 

 weeks. 



The principal donation to the department during the past year has been 

 that of the W. Otto Emerson collection of study skins, consisting of some 



