1892.J General Notes. 



309 



with a luxuriant growth of mosses ami ferns, birds were scarce, a-.id 

 almost the only species met with were Sooty Grouse {Deiich-(ii;ii/>HS 

 t>/>scurf(s /iili<ri//osus) , Harris's Woodpeckers {Dryohates villosiis /larrisii), 

 Steller's Jays (^Cyanocitla stellet-i), Oregon Jays {Perisoreus obsciiriis), 

 and Winter Wrens (^Troglodytes hiemalis facijicus). Along the banks of 

 the Chehalis River, and back of the town on the tide-flat or marsh which 

 was several acres in. extent and formed the largest opening in the forest 

 in this vicinity, birds were abundant, and among those observed were 

 four species not given in Lawrence's list, viz., Phalacrocorax felagicus 

 ro/>ustitsP,Rallus virginianus^ Cliordeiles virginianus heiiryi, and Piraiiga 

 ludoviciiDia. To the notes on these species have been added remarks on 

 a few species of special interest. 



Larus occidentalis. Western Gui.l. — This species is given by Law- 

 rence as a " winter resident. Very common on tide water" .... Gulls, 

 presumably of this species, were abundant early in August, and at Astoria 

 at the mouth of the Columbia River during the last week in Jul v. It is 

 probable that the Western Gull is absent for only a short time during 

 the summer, and is almost a resident in this vicinity as at other points 

 along the coast, but whether it breeds near the Harbor is uncertain. 



Phalacrocorax pelagicus robustus. Violet-green Cormorant. — 

 On August 20 two flocks of Cormorants, about twenty-five in all, were 

 seen flying down the Chehalis River. Two days later, while going up 

 the river about sunset, the steamer passed a large roost a few miles above 

 the town of Cosmopolis. The birds were roosting near the tops of the 

 spruce trees along the bank, and as the boat passed, with the whistle 

 blowing, a gun was discharged and one hundred and fifty to two hundred 

 Cormorants took wing, startled by the unwonted noise. Unfortunately 

 no opportunity for procuring specimens was had, and the identity of 

 the species is somewhat in doubt. A Cormorant collected by Mr. Clark 

 P. Streator, who found it common in October or November of the same 

 year at Ilwaco, only a short distance south of Grays Harbor, proved to be 

 P. robustus. 



Rallus virginianus. Virginia Rail. — On August 13 a Virgina Rail 

 was flushed on the tide-flat just back of the town. The birti rose but a 

 few feet from me, and was plainly seen. 



Colaptes cafer saturatior. Northwestern Flicker. — The Flicker, 

 supposed to be C. c. saturatior was common, but unfortunately no speci- 

 mens were collected at this locality. Mr. Lawrence, however, refers it to 

 Colaptes cafer.* 



Chordeiles virginianus henryi. Western Nighthawk. — Not very 

 common, only one or two seen. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli. Gambel's Sparrow.— This is one of 

 the most abundant and characteristic birds of the coast region from San 



* [Mr. Lawrence has sent to me quite a series of these birds, which were of course 

 C. c. saturatior. It was an oversight that the form recorded by Mr. Lawrence in 

 his 'notes' was not so given. — J. A. Allen.] 



