Q2 Cooper on Birds of Ventura County, California. [April 



winter straggler, possibly from Alaska. (See 'New Facts,' etc., for further 

 particulars; also the Appendix to Vol. Ill, North American Birds, where 

 several other of these Saticoy birds are mentioned.) 



iS. Chordeiles texensis (421). A rare bird in the valley, and probably 

 this is the limit of its northern range. I shot one April 15, in the West 

 Grove, of such large size that it would have been taken for C. sirginia- 

 nus, if not distinguished by the specific marks, especially the position of 

 the white wing-patches. Length, 9.12; extent, 22.25 ; wing, 8; tail, 4.60. 



19. Chaetura vauxii (424). Migrating flocks appeared April 22, 1873, 

 at Saticoy, but did not remain, seeking the high pine woods at that 

 season. 



20. Empidonax difficilis (463). Arrived at Saticoy March iS, 1S73, but 

 none remained near there in summer, although, as Hcnshaw found them 

 at that season in Santa Barbara and eastward, they no doubt breed in 

 the hills near by. 



21. Empidonax pusillus (465). First seen at Saticoy, May 22, and 

 appear to be always late in arriving in California. They frequent the 

 swamps at Saticoy with the last species, and are reported by Ilenshaw to 

 build in similar willow groves at Los Angeles, though I have also found 

 them in summer high on the mountains. They also breed in a willow 

 swamp near Pleasanton, Alameda Count}*. 



E. obscurus (469). I mention this to confirm Evermann's belief in 

 its occurrence, and the eggs he obtained are good evidence that it breeds. 

 I found them only in winter, killing two on November 19 and December 

 14, besides seeing others, which makes it probable that a few winter there. 



22. Pyrocephalus rubineus mexicanus (477). I shot two perfect male 

 specimens of this brilliant subtropical bird in West Grove on October 21 

 and November 7. Seeing no more west of the Colorado Valley, except one 

 near San Diego, I considered it a rare species near the coast, but one that 

 probably breeds in the county. The two shot had but lately obtained 

 perfect plumage, and seemed likely to be young from the same nest. 



23. Corvus corax sinuatus (4S6). The Raven was very common, es- 

 pecially about sheep ranches, and some were killed while I was there for 

 destroying lambs, so that they are no doubt scarce now. I once counted 

 thirty soaring with Turkey Buzzards, above a sheep fold near East Grove, 

 is is their frequent habit about midday, after feeding on dead sheep when 

 the flocks had gone out for the day. A fine male, killed November 20, 

 measured 23.40; extent, 46.30; wing, 16.25. I cannot but believe that this 

 is the species taken for C. anicricanus by Evermann, while he took the 

 latter for C. cauriiius. Both being rather smaller in southern California 

 than farther eastward, it was a natural mistake to make, though the habits 

 of the Raven arc very different from those of Crows. A pair of Crows shot 

 November 6, at Saticoy, measured, J 17.75 ; extent, 36.50; wing, 12.25 ' ? 

 17.50; extent, 35 ; wing, 11.75. They are thus of middle size between east- 

 ern antericanus and northwestern cauriiius. Mr. Henshaw also considers 

 the Crows of this region different from americanus of the East, and calls 

 them caurinus. I have before tried to show that all the West Coast Crows 

 form one variable species (omiting the Raven). 



