104- EvERMANN on Birds of Ventura County, California. [April 



May 4 a nest was found, saddled near the end of a horizontal limb of a 

 live-oak which stood in a pasture in the valley, but near the mouth of 

 Santa Paula Caiion. This nest contained three fresh eggs, which meas- 

 ured .90 X -64, .92 X .62, and .89 X .62. Other nests were found May 12, 

 13, 17, and 19, and June 2. Of the seven nests found by me only one was 

 out in the valley, the others all being in Santa Paula Cauon. All of 

 these nests were in live-oaks, but I have since been informed by Mr. Fred. 

 Corey of Santa Paula, that he has recently found them in pepper-trees, 

 blue-gums, and elders. From these seven nests twenty eggs were obtained, 

 //irce being the number in each clutch except one, which contained but 

 two. In Arizona, Capt. Bendire has found many nests of this bird, but 

 with never more than two eggs in a set, and it was not known that 

 more than two eggs to the set were ever laid until these nests were found 

 by me.* The average measurements of eighteen eggs are .925 X -652, and 

 thus somewhat larger than those of Arizona specimens. 



In the 'Ornithologist and Oologist,' Vol. VII, p. 179, I speak of the 

 song of this bird, which I have often heard at nightfall in the cauon above 

 mentioned. This song is sweet and plaintive, agreeing essentially with 

 the description of Dr. J. G. Cooper and Dr. Cones, who seem to be the 

 only observers who have hitherto been willing to credit the Phainopepla 

 with any ability as a bird of song. 



Santa Paula Cifion seems to be the favorite ground in this county for 

 this bird ; only in three other places in the county have I seen it. These 

 are (i) a few individuals in the Santa Clara Valley about Santa Paula, (2) 

 several in the beautiful Ojai Valley, seven to ten miles from Santa Paula, 

 and (3) among the gnarled and moss-grown oaks on the Cacitas Pass, be- 

 tween San Buenaventura and Santa Barbara, where I saw a number in the 

 month of June, but did not have leisure to search for nests. 



162. *Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides. (622 a.') White-rumped 

 SniiiKE. — A common resident. This bird is often mistaken for the Mock- 

 ingbird bv the common people, who wonder why the pets they have 

 reared with such care show no inclination to sing. 



163. *Viieo gilvus. (627.) Warbling Vireo. — Summer resident, 

 but not common. 



164. Vireo huttoni. (632.) IIuttox's Vireo. — Not common. Prob- 

 ably breeds in the county. 



165. Vireo bellii pusillus. (633 a.) Least Vireo. — I am not sure 

 that I ever saw this bird, but think I saw a few among the oaks near Si- 

 Sa Cafujn in January. 



166. Dendroica aestiva. (652.) Yellow Warbler. — A common 

 migrant. Some may remain to breed, but I do not know that its nest has 

 ever been found in the county. 



167. Dendroica auduboni. (656.) Audubon's Warbler. — An abun- 

 dant winter resident. This is by far the most common species of the 

 family found on the coast. 



[*On this point see also W. E. D. Scott, Auk, Vol. II, pp. 242-246, especially the 

 last paragraph of p. 246. — Eon.] 



