lOO AxTHoxv. The Fulmars of Soiiiherti California. I Aciril 



Vol. VII, Jan. 1882, p. 59), is much less richly colored than the 

 others, especially on the lower parts where the dark markings are 

 but little obscured by chestnut save on the breast and the middle 

 of the abdomen. This specimen, however, has one peculiarity not 

 shared by any of the others ; viz., a band or collar of broad, 

 elongated, stiffened feathers which extend continuously around 

 the neck in front crossing the lower portion of the jugulum about 

 in a line with the neck tufts and forming a conspicuous ruff which 

 is mainly black mixed with reddish chestnut. 



All four of these singularly colored Grouse are males. As all 

 of them were obtained in the markets, nothing positive is known 

 as to the localities where they were killed. This is unfortunate 

 for definite knowledge on this point is almost essential to any 

 satisfactory explanation of their peculiarities. It seems probable, 

 however, that they represent merely a color phase of Tympanuchus 

 americanus (with which all but the bird last mentioned agree pre- 

 f ectly in every respect excepting color) ; or, in other words, that the 

 Prairie Hen is subject to a form of what is known as erythrism. 

 In any case the rufous plumage must be either of very rare 

 or very local occurrence, for since obtaining my bird I have 

 examined several thousand Prairie Hens in the Boston markets 

 without finding a second specimen. 



THE FULMARS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.^ 



BY A. W. ANTHONY. 



Some time about the last of September the first of the Fulmars 

 make there appearance off the coast of southern California, the 

 exact date being somewhat uncertain and due in a measure to 

 the food supply, and quite possibly also to the weather. 



The first arrivals are met with well off shore, with the Hocks 

 of Shearwaters, Puffinus gavia, creatopus and gr/seus, from ten to 

 thirty miles at sea. 



'An author's edition of 125 copies of this paper was issued March 16, 

 1895. — Ed. 



