164 VAN" DENBUEGH — BIRDS OF SANTA CLARA CO., CAL. [Nov. 17, 



Colaptes cafer. Red-shafted Flicker. 



Flickers are common at all seasons of the year, but are much 

 more abundant in winter than in summer, there seeming to be a 

 considerable immigration of northern birds at this season without a 

 corresponding exodus. With these northern (?) individuals of 

 C. cafer come numerous birds showing more or less auraius blood. 

 Some of these are almost true cafer, others almost typical auratus. 

 One, now in the collection of Leland Stanford Junior University, 

 has the rectrices of one side yellow and shorter than those of the 

 other side, which are red. 



These birds nest late in May, and lay usually five, sometimes four 

 or six eggs. 



Colaptes auraius luteus. Northern Flicker. 



I add this name only on the strength of some of the birds mer 

 tioned above. All show traces of cafer blood. 



Phalcenoptilus nuitalli calif amicus . California Poorwill. 



This curious bird may often be seen toward dusk squatted in the 

 dust of the old and less frequented roads of the hill region. Here 

 they may often be followed for a quarter of a mile or more, rising 

 when approached, but alighting again farther on. In August they 

 feed on a gray moth, and when disturbed utter a few quick, short 

 notes very different from their plaintive love call. 



Chcetura vauxii. Vaux's Swift. 



No rule can be given for the coming and going of these birds, 

 whose movements seem to be regulated, if regulated at all, by the 

 abundance of insect food. I have seen them very many times, but 

 find only two dates in my notebooks — Palo Alto, April 27, 1893, 

 and Los Gatos, August 24, 1893. They are usually seen in com- 

 pany with Tachycineta thalassina, and I have reason to believe 

 that both breed among the redwoods of Santa Cruz county. 



Calypie anna. Anna's Hummingbird. 



Anna's hummingbirds are resident throughout the year, though 

 they probably are fewer in winter than at other seasons. One 

 unusually cold winter day I found a male of this species perched on 

 a rafter in a barn and unable to move until warmed in the house, 

 when he flew about seemingly none the worse for his torpor. They 

 sometimes begin to nest in January, and I have found nests con- 



