50 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 12 



74. Podasocys montanus (J. K. Townsend) 



Mountain Plover 



Podasocys montana {1) Breninger, Auk, xxi, 1904, p. 222. 



Podasocys montanus {2) Willett, Pac. Coast Avif., 7, 1912, p. 41. (3) Grinnell, Pac. Coast 

 Avif., 11, 1915, p. 56. 



G. F. Breninger (1) took one of these birds on San Clemente in February, 

 1903, and states that he was informed that they wintered on the island in large 

 numbers. If this was the case they are undoubtedly much rarer there at this 

 time than formerly, as is also true in the lowlands of the adjacent mainland. 



75. Aphriza virgata (Gmelin) 



Surf-bird 



A2)hriza virgata (i) Cooper, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., iv, 1870, p. 79. (.») Baird, Brewer 

 and Ridgway, Water Birds N. Am., i, 1884, p. 127. (.?) Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avif., 3, 

 1902, p. 28. (//) Willett, Pac. Coast Avif., 7, 1912, p. 41. (.7) Grinnell, Pac. Coast 

 Avif., 11, 1915, p. 56. 



Rare migrant on the islands though probably commoner there than on the 

 mainland opposite. C. B. Linton (4) took an adult on San Nicolas, May 15, 1909, 

 and J. G. Cooper (1) saw birds on Santa Barbara and Catalina islands which 

 he took to be of this species. L. M. Loomis ( i) says that R. H. Beck secured sev- 

 eral on San Miguel from March 13 to April 1, 1903. My experience with this 

 species on the mainland leads me to believe that it is a rapid migrant, and in the 

 habit of making long flights, touching usually only at certain favorable promon- 

 tories and headlands in its line of travel. If this is the case, the islands should 

 be favorite resting places for the birds, and I believe that systematic work on 

 the rocks of the Santa Barbara group at the right season would prove them to 

 be not so rare as they are usually considered. Indications are that during the 

 spring, the first week in May is the most likely time to look for them. 



76. Arenaria interpres morinella (Linnaeus) 



Ruddy Turnstone 



Arenaria interpres morinella (1) Mearns, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., lvi, 1907, p. 141. (2) 

 Grinnell, Condor, xi, 1909, p. 139. (J) Willett, Pac. Coast Avif., 7, 1912, p. 41. (4) 

 Wright and Snyder, Condor, xv, 1913, p. 91. 



Probably a regular though not a plentiful migrant. E. A. IMearns (1) took 

 this bird at San Clemente in late August, 1894, and C. B. Linton (5) found it 

 fairly common on the rocks of San Nicolas from March 30 to May 11, 1910. H. 

 Wright (2) shot an immature male at Catalina, September 3, 1907, and (i) saw 

 one at Pelican Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, July 8, 1912. C. B. Linton (3) noted 

 two birds on San Miguel, October 15, 1910. 



77. Arenaria melanocephala (Vigors) 



Black Turnstone 



Stripsilas melanoceplialus (J) Henshaw, Rep. Wheeler Surv., 1876, p. 270. 



Arenaria melanocephala (2) Blake, Auk, iv, 1887, p. 329. (3) Streator, Orn. & Ool., xiii. 



