Vol iS m ] Ray ' A-Birding in an Auto. 409 



manoeuvring we succeeded in making the crossing. The road 

 leads up from the river over a thickly wooded ridge where we 

 found the Phainopepla very common. Four eggs of the Anthony 

 Towhee, which had the appearance of advanced incubation, 

 were also noticed in a nest a few feet up among clinging vines on a 

 tree trunk. Santa Barbara was reached at 4.45 p. m., we hav- 

 ing been three and a half hours on the way. 



June 3. — To Santa Maria, 85 miles. Additional species, 1.. 



To-day's route took us along the coast as far as Gaviota, and 

 in this district Ave noted the Roadrunner as by no means uncom- 

 mon. At Gaviota we struck inland, through a winding pass of the 

 same name, into the Santa Ynez and Los Olivos country. The 

 region is very fertile and heavily oaked, and such birds as the 

 Desert Sparrow Hawk, California Jay, Red-shafted Flicker, Cali- 

 fornia Woodpecker, Western Bluebird, Black-headed Groskeak, 

 and others which frequent these woods, were found in abundance. 

 For a second time, near Los Olivos, the California Condor was 

 seen, which inclines one to the belief that the bird is really more 

 common than is supposed. As before, the bird was among a flock 

 of the smaller species. The day's run was ended at Santa Maria. 



June 4- — To San Luis Obispo, 28 miles. Additional species, 1. 



Troubles with the carbureter caused a late start and frequent 

 stops on the trip to-day. We ran out of the rolling country at 

 Arroyo Grande and thence westward to the seaside resort of Pismo. 

 The road skirts the broad level beach and then carried us along 

 high rocky cliffs, while below us there lay as a poet 1 has said, 



Stretching out in endless line like regiments of war, 

 The snow-plumed waves in rank and file were charging on the shore 

 With a thunderous roar and echo deep as cannon in the fray, 

 While rose along the fighting line the battlecloud of spray. 



But before long a damp chilling fog enveloped us and we, glad 

 to leave scenery and sentiment, headed with all speed along the 

 road which, leading in a northeasterly direction, brought us into 

 San Luis Obispo. 



1 Y. S. Notlim. 



