ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 201 
The following shows the comparative sizes of these and of C. chrysoides, 
from Ft. Mojave, in same latitude: 
C. auratus G'; length 13 inches, extent 20.20, wing 6.35. 
C. Mexicanus of; length 13.75 inches, extent 21.40, wing 6.75. 
C. cHRysorEs, ('; length 11.75 inches, extent 19.25, wing 6.25. 
The colors of iris, bill, and feet were alike, except in the last, which had 
the iris blood-red. It becomes} again a question which of the yellow-winged 
species was Dr. Heermann’s ‘“‘ C. Ayresii,’’ from Cosumnes River, Cal. 
In January, 1873, I shot a specimen of C. Mewicanus at the same locality, 
which attracted my attention by its pale orange-color under the wings. I 
found it not a hybrid, nor in any way intermediate, but a faded variety, such 
as is noticed in specimens of other woodpeckers from the hot, arid regions 
east of the Sierra Nevada. Though its plumage was fresh and not worn, its 
back was nearly white, with dusky bars, quills gray near ends, and other 
upper parts pale brown, marked as usual. It was evidently a migrant from 
the border of the deserts eastward, and showed that climate can have little 
to do with the characters of the two leading forms, or the intermediate race; 
which is further proved by the occurrence of two species in the Colorado 
valley, where no hybrids have so far been found. 
The occurrence of C. auratus in Greenland and England makes its occa- 
sional straggling to California less remarkable; but is it not capable of natu- 
ralization here? 
STRIX (FLAMMEA var.?) PRATINCOLA—Barn Owl—p. 415. Audubon’s ac- 
count of the nesting of this bird in the grass, though almost incredible, is not 
much less so than its building underground, as it occasionally does in Cali- 
fornia, selecting a cavity in a steep bank of earth along some stream, where 
the winter rains leave many such holes, perfectly dry for six or eight months 
of summer. I obtained five eggs from such a cavity, Apr. 10th, 1875, at Hay- 
wood, Alameda Co., where I also knew of nests in hollow trees, among 
branches, and in a wind-mill, whose owner wisely protected them. Bona- 
parte’s specific name, implying a general residence in fields, was therefore 
badly chosen for this variety, fo® which the name Americana Aud., 1834, is 
also prior, and not mistakable for Gmelin’s uncertain species. As this owl 
scarcely goes north beyond lat. 42°, and stragglers are not reported from the 
interval of over 3,000 miles between its range and that of S. flammea, an in- 
termingling of the races must have occurred at a very remote period, if ever. 
In California it is resident in the northern half of the State all the year, and 
in winter its numbers are increased by migrants from the north, probably 
from as far as Oregon, where it was found by Townsend and Peale. 
It would not be strange if this owl was found to enlarge its underground 
domicile when too small by a little burrowing, like the similar-footed but 
weaker Ground Owl, or as reported of the short-footed Brachyotus by Dall. 
Buteo Swarnsonti—White-throated Buzzard (of Nuttall)—p. 476. I shot 
the first specimen of the typical race recorded from California, on Oct. 2d, 
1872, at Saticoy, Ventura Co. Nearly, if not quite all, breeding west of the 
Proo. Cau. AcAD. Sci., Vol. VI.—14, 
