BULLETIN 



OF 



The American Museum of Natural History 



Volumh: XLVI1I, 1924 



59.82(72.2) 



Article I.— BIRDS COLLECTED IN LOWER CALIFORNIA 



By Charles Haskins Townsend 

 Plate I 



During the voyage of the U. S. Fisheries Steamer 'Albatross' in 

 Lower California waters in 1911, collecting parties were sent ashore at 

 thirty different points on the lower part of the peninsula, on islands in 

 the Gulf of California and along the west coast. Among the collections 

 were 804 birds representing 159 species and subspecies. As more than 

 three-fourths of these were land birds, many of them peculiar to Lower 

 California, and as certain islands had not previously been visited by 

 naturalists, the collection is of considerable interest. 



With the exception of those from Guadalupe Island, all of the birds 

 taken were from points south of the San Benita Islands in the Pacific 

 and Angel de la Guardia Island in the Gulf, a section including the lower 

 half of the peninsula, and embracing all of the Cape faunal district. 

 Specimens were obtained of most of the species characteristic of this 

 district which lies within the arid tropical life zone. 



The expedition being engaged in several lines of inquiry, including 

 fishery and oceanographic work, and the duration of the voyage limited 

 to two months, the time available for bird collecting was not sufficient 

 for any very thorough examination of the bird fauna. The total number 

 of days or parts of days spent at anchor was forty-three, but at some 

 points the vessel remained at anchor only a few hours. 



