BULUrriN No. 32. 5 



bounds : even thus, birds that I thought I had a good right to 

 escaped me. A certain Lark Sparrow would sing his heart out 

 from one of the trees in an adjoining j'ard but he avoided me 

 as if I were a kodak fiend. An ill .favored Turkey Vulture 

 passing up the valley on his daily round of inspection was 

 always careful to give us a considerable berth. Of course we 

 readily excu.sed the omission on sanitary grounds. Many a 

 time did I endeavor to " shoo " a Dusky Horned Lark, nesting 

 in an adjoining back lot, within bounds, but all to no pursose. 

 Finally, at the expiration of four months the bird came of its 

 own accord, and came often, b}' way of asserting its inde- 

 pendence. 



Of course we had rare visitors. June 5th was a gala day at 

 the parsonage, for although I mistook the name on the cards, 

 at first, I soon made out To^vnsend' s Warblei's. The trouble 

 was due to their high plumage. It was brighter, that is 

 "higher," than Coues' description of it. Thus : In the adult 

 male the crown was pure black, not jet black indeed, but still 

 dead black, unstreaked, and most inten.se on the forehead. 

 Instead of merely " jugulum black " most birds were black 

 clear tip to the bill, altho — and this is important— .some birds 

 were not. This exten.sion of the black throat led me, care- . 

 lessly enough, to assume D. occidentalis ; but the other mark- 

 ings are positive and determinative. The bird is an exqui.site 

 and no mistake. Not less than a dozen .spent the day with us 

 in orchard and shade trees. The birds .sang freely. The .song 

 was very much like that of D. virens in general character, 

 only somewhat lighter and more varied. A returning bird was 

 noted on Augu.st 2ord and he was still in .song. 



Other notables worthy of .special mention are : Lute.scent 

 Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Least Sandpipers, MacFar- 

 lane's Screech Owl and Black-headed Jay. The latter was 

 slipping through the country very quietly, knowing that he 

 was about twenty miles off his beat. 



The time covered by the following ' ' yard list ' ' is nine 

 months ; for owing to removal from the parsonage in February 

 it is not thought worth while to add tho.se accidentally noted 

 since March 1, 1900. The sixty-three .species are recorded in 

 the order of their occurrence. 



