1912 BIRDS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ill 



(Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 2nd. ser. i, 1849, 222). Not known that he secured 

 specimens in the state. R. B. Herron informed F. Stephens that he saw a bird 

 of this species standing in a pond, about four miles south of San Bernardino, 

 June 20, 1903. It was feeding and paid no attention as he drove past within gun 

 shot. At first he thought it was a Wood Ibis, but, on coming nearer, he saw the 

 pink tinge of plumage and the spatulate bill. On his returning the next morning 

 with a gun, the bird was gone. Mr. Stephens was further informed by H. E. 

 Wilder that during 1902, while in Riverside, he saw a bird fly over that he felt 

 sure was a Roseate Spoonbill (Condor vi, 1904, 139). While these facts would 

 seem to show that this bird probably does occasionally occur in southern Cali- 

 fornia, there still remains an element of doubt, due to a possibility of misidenti- 

 fication. 



7. (255) Totanus flavipes (Gmelin). Yellow-legs. 



In migrations, mainly east of the Rocky Mountains (A. O. U. Check-List, 

 1910, 120). Noted in southern Lower California (Brewster, Bull. Mus. Comp. 

 Zool. xli, 1902, 66). According to E. Heller, noted twice at Riverside during 

 migrations (Condor in, 1901, 100). Mr. Heller writes me that it is possible that 

 these birds were wrongly identified, and that he does not know the present where- 

 abouts of the specimens. 



8. (272) Charadrius dominicus dominicus Muller. Golden Plover. 

 In migration to California. Formerly abundant, now becoming rare (A. 



O. U. Check-List, 1910, 127). Young male taken by M. Abbott Frazar at 

 San Jose del Cabo, Lower California, October 18, 1887 (Brewster, Bull. Mus. 

 Comp. Zool. xli, 1902, 71). Bradford Torrey records seeing a bird of this 

 species at Coronado Beach, San Diego County, January 12, 15 and 20, 1908 

 (Condor xi, 1909, 207). While Mr. Torrey is well known to be a most care- 

 ful observer, I feel that records of birds belonging to the group of waders 

 should not be considered conclusive without the actual taking of specimens. 



9. (442). Muscivora tyrannus (Linnaeus). Fork-tailed Flycatcher. 

 Specimen obtained from a dealer in California curiosities, at Santa Monica, 



Los Angeles County, recorded by G. L. Toppan (Orn. & Ool. ix, 1884, 48). 

 Supposed to have been shot near that place in late summer, 1883. 



10. (464a) Empidonax difficilis cineritius Brewster. San Lucas Fly- 

 catcher. 



Lower California. Breeds as far north as the Cuyamaca Mountains, San 

 Diego County (A. O. U. Check-List, 1910, 215). Breeding in the Cuyamaca 

 Mountains from 4000 to 6000 feet elevation, latter part of June, 1895 (An- 

 thony, Auk xn, 1895, 390). In the summer of 1909, F. Stephens went to the 

 Cuyamaca Mountains in the interests of the University of California Museum 

 of Vertebrate Zoology, with the chief object of securing this flycatcher. He 

 secured a number of breeding birds, of which Mr. Grinnell writes me: "I 

 consider. them identical with Empidonax difficilis difficilis, as occurring through- 

 out California. They are somewhat more worn and, possibly, faded than some 

 other examples of difficilis at hand, but I would certainly not consider them 



