1899.] VAN" DENBURGII — BIRDS OF SANTA CLARA CO., CAL. 159 



probable that two broods sometimes are reared in a season, for I 

 have found nests containing fresh eggs as late as June 26 (1889). 



The very young birds feed, to a great extent, on the seeds of a 

 small grass, which ripen in May and June. Later in the summer 

 various seeds and grains are eaten, and during the autumn and early 

 winter grapes, and then the berries of the California holly form 

 a large part of their diet. In the early spring, after tne seeds have 

 sprouted, the quail live almost entirely on the tender leaves of the 

 young weeds which cover the ground. They are very fond of the 

 inner portions of various small bulbs turned up by the plow. A pair 

 made daily visits to a cherry tree during the season of that fruit. 



Many of the oaks near Los Gatos contain nests made of twigs 

 by a species of wood-rat. The quail often resoit to these when 

 hunted and it is very difficult to get one to leave when once it is 

 thus hidden. On the i6th of May, 1886, I flushed a pair of quail 

 from such a nest, built about eight feet from the ground, and upon 

 climbing to it found it to contain five eggs. Two days later this 

 nest was empty. 



Coliimbafiisciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. 



This pigeon is a rather common migrant and winter resident, 

 occurring from October 6 (1889) to May 9 (1890). It feeds on 

 the red fruit of the Christmas berry, acorns, oak buds and grain, but 

 rarely descends to the ground. The largest flock, contaniing be- 

 tween seven hundred and a thousand birds, was observed near Los 

 Gatos in November, 1887. Usually the flocks are composed of from 

 two to three dozen individuals. At Palo Alto they may be found 

 throughout the winter and well on into May. 



Zenaidura macroura. Mourning Dove. 



A common spring and summer resident, arriving about the end 

 of March. I have found fresh eggs from the first week in May until 

 the last in June. The doves eat large quantities of the shiny black 

 seeds of a sort of ''cockscomb" which grows very abundantly in 

 parts of the valley. 

 Pseudogryphics californianus. California Vulture. 



Two vultures seen near Los Gatos are my only records of this 

 species in Santa Clara county. 

 Cathartes aura. Turkey Buzzard. 



Buzzards may be seen at any season of the year, sometimes in 



