80 



THE OSPREY. 



HOME OF THE PIED-BILLED GREBE. 

 PHOTOGRAPH BY T. L. HANKINSON. BY COURTESY OF THE MICHIGAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



There is a gradual ruffling of the feathers until they "At the time we landed on the island, about the 



are fluffed out all over the body and the Rail is more middle of March, 1897, the male finches were in 



than twice his usual proportions. Now the short full song. The first nest I found was typical of all 



wings are not noticeable and the little tail shows but noted and may be described as follows : It was sit- 



sHghtly. The head is twisted about by slow degrees uated six inches from the top of a cactus plant two 



until like a flash it disappears. It has gone into that feet across and two feet high. The nest was of 



ball of feathers, but where ? Of course it is under grass and stems and lined principally with goat's 



the wing, but looking at the transformation you would hair. The five eggs were fresh. The measurements 



never know. Where the neck was lost in the ball of the nest are : Inside diameter 3^^ inches ; outside 



there is a circle which reminds you of the end of a diameter 4}^ inches ; inside depth 2 inches ; outside 



lady's muff, only the brown has harmonized beauti- depth 3^ inches. 



fully with the black of the body and its dainty fleck- "Owing to the clinging nature of the cholla plant 



ing of white. We touched the little fellow once it is difficult to remove the nest without doing damage 



while he was thus fluffed up. Out came his head to yourself as well as to the nest. The island is 



but it was quickly popped into place again Although overrun with domestic cats which are succeeding in 



fed with an abundance of worms, after eight days he rapidly exterminating all the native birds as well as 



died, evidently of starvation. I am forced to believe the Guadalupe Petrel. The vicious cholla cactus 



that the worms were a mistaken diet and gave no alone saves the finches." 



sustenance. Proper food, perhaps, obtainable, would Chester Barlow read a paper on 'The Summer 



have kept alive the only captive /'c'r:(7«rtyrt;//r?/(f;/.f/.v." Home of J^irc'o soHtariiis cassiiii and Other Notes,' 



A paper by Richard C. McGregor was read in the and exhibited photographs bearing upon his paper, 



absence of the author, entitled : Donald A. Cohen read a collection of interesting 



THE GUADALUPE HOUSE FINCH. - notes bearing upon migration as observed at Ala- 



" As you go ashore at Guadalupe Island the first meda, under the title of 'Local Migration.' 



bird you hear, the first bird you see is the Guadalupe A paper dealing with the ' Nesting of Macgillivray's 



House Finch, Carpodactcs amphis. The first nest you Warbler in Contra Costa County,' by Claude Cum- 



will find belongs to this species. The Finch is the mings, was read. This Warbler was recorded as 



most abundant species of bird on the island. It may fairly common about Danville where the nesting 



be well to state that the only trees on the island are range is confined entirely to the hills. The favorite 



the cypress, pine and palm confined to the higher nesting sites are patches of blackberry vines along 



parts. Near the beach and in the rocky arroyas the small streams or on sloping hillsides. One nest 



leading to the ocean the only plants available for found in 1897 was built in a small wild rose bush 



nesting sites are cholla cactus plants. near a well-beaten cow-path. A set taken May 2 



