162 VAN DENBURGH — BIRDS OF SANTA CLARA CO., CAL. [Nov. 17, 



there. The extreme rarity of this owl at Los Gatos is doubtless due 

 to the absence of large trees. 



Speotyto cunicularia hypogcea. Burrowing Owl. 



This a common resident in many parts of the county. A pair 

 have nested near the same spot on the campus of Leland Stan- 

 ford Junior University three successive years. In winter one bird 

 may always be seen near this nest burrow (of Spermophilus), but I 

 have never seen two there at that season. In this burrow I have 

 found at various times remnants of gophers, meadowlarks and toads. 



Glmicidium gnoma californicum. California Pygmy Owl. 



Twice, in May, 1898, a Pygmy Owl came at about six in the morn- 

 ing and dashed itself against the wire netting of my bird cage. 



Geococcyx califoniianus. Road-runner. 



Road-runners are not very common. I have seen them either 

 at Los Gatos or Palo Alto in every month of the year except Janu- 

 ary, and have taken their eggs in May. A nest found in a white oak 

 near Los Gatos, May 31, 1888, held four eggs, two of which con- 

 tained large embryos. This nest was made of oak twigs, lined with 

 weeds and grasses, fifteen feet from the ground. Diameter, twelve 

 inches; height, eight inches ; cavity diameter, seven inches; cavity 

 depth, three inches. Another nest, in a cypress near Palo Alto, 

 contained four highly incubated eggs. May 14, 1892. 



Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. 



Kingfishers are sometimes found along the larger streams of the 

 county, where they occasionally breed. 



Dryobates pubescens gairdnerii. Gairdner's Woodpecker. 



This active little bird is nowhere very common, although seem- 

 ingly more abundant at Palo Alto than at Los Gatos. A nest in a 

 maple near Los Gatos contained five fresh eggs, May 5, 1890. 



Dryobates nuttallii. Nuttall's Woodpecker. 



I have seen this bird only on Mount Hamilton, where it is said 

 to breed. 



Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis. Red-naped Sapsucker. 



A bird which I shot at Palo Alto, February 17, 1893, ^s» while 

 not typical of this form, much nearer 6". varius nuchalis than S, 

 ruber. It was busy in a small grove of pepper trees when found. 



