300 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



DIMENSIONS OF SPECIMEN. 



Kemarks — The wing and tail are both a trifle shorter than specimeus 

 from Oakland (3) and Big Trees, Cal., (1), but no more than might be ex- 

 pected in individual variation. 



18. Junco insularis. 



Guadalupe Junco. — In his notes, Dr. Palmer refers to 

 this species as "the most abundant birds of the island," 

 etc. According to my observation they rank about third in 

 relative abundance, the rock-wrens and linnets taking pre- 

 cedence. No juncos were found at a lower altitude than 

 the palm grove, and the majority were inhabitants of the 

 pines and large cypress grove. A pair \. hich was evidently 

 mated was taken in the small cypress grove on the 15th of 

 January, 1885. The following year not more than two ox 

 three were seen in this locality. 



I did not find them noticeably tamer than the linnets, 

 nor so confiding as the rock-wrens. Their food was princi- 

 pally of seeds, a partiality being shown for the green seeds 

 of the "wild lettuce." Their song was twice heard from 

 the top of tall cypress trees. It resembles somewhat the 

 trill of the chipping sparrow. They also had a sharp chip- 

 ping note when alarmed. They remained mostly either 

 upon the ground or low down in the branches of trees. The 

 limbs of a fallen pine were a favorite resort at all times, and 

 the ground underneath most used as a nesting-place. 



The Blue "Gorrions" mated early — soon after the be- 

 ginning of the year — and were setting by the 26th of Jan- 

 uary, regardless of the almost continuous fogs and winds. 

 A nest found March 10 contained four young, hatched but a 

 few days before. It was placed in a depression, flush with 



