.1912 BIRDS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 41 



137. (281) Podasocys montanus (J. K. Townsend). Mountain Plo- 



\ER. 



Conunon winter visitant on grassy fields and pasture lands of the lower 

 country. 1 liave never seen any exact data on the time of arrival and depart- 

 ure of this bird in southern California. Antonin Jay found it plentiful near 

 Montebello, Los Angeles County, September 15, 1896, and noted it in consid- 

 erable numbers at Nigger Slough, February 15, 1897. It was reported by G. 

 F. Breninger as wintering on San Clemente Island (Auk xxi, 1904, 222). 

 Being found in large flocks, it is easy prey for the pot hunter and, unless rig- 

 idly protected by law, is in danger of extermination. 



138. (282) Aphriza virgata (Gmelin). Surf-bird. 



Rare migrant, mostly along rocky shores. J. G. Cooper saw birds that he 

 believed to be of this species on Santa Barbara Island, but they were so wild 

 that he could not get a shot at them (B., Br. & Ridg., W. B. N. A. i, 1884, 

 127). I am informed by L. M. Loomis that there were in the collection of the 

 California Academy of Sciences several specimens of the Surf-bird obtained 

 by R. H. Beck on San Miguel Island, some time between March 13 and April 

 1, 1903. These specimens were destroyed with the rest of the Academy collec- 

 tion, in the conflagration of 1906. C. B. Linton took an adult bird on San Nic- 

 olas Island, May 15, 1909. A. B. Howell and W. L. Dawson saw a flock of five 

 of these birds, accompanied by two Marbled Godwits, near Santa Barbara, Sep- 

 tember 16, 1911 (Condor xiv, 1912, 11). A pair was taken by Mr. Howell 

 and Mr. Dawson secured one specimen. F. Gruber procured a specimen at 

 Santa Barbara in the spring ( Henshaw\ Ann. Rep. Ch. En. U. S. G. S., 1876, 

 App. J J, 270). H. W. Marsden took an immature male at Pacific Beach, San 

 Diego County, September 8, 1904 (Bishop, Condor vii. 1905, 141). 



139. (283) Arenaria interpres interpres (Linnaeus). Turnstone. 

 One record, that of an immature female taken by H. W. Marsden at 



I^acific Beach, vSan Diego County, September 8, 1904 (Bishop, Condor vii. 

 1905, 141). This specimen was examined by H. C. Oberholser. who agrees 

 with Dr. Bishop as to its identity. He considers that it is undoubtedly an 

 Eastern Hemisphere bird that wandered out of its course. 



140. (283a) Arenaria interpres morinella (Linnaeus). Ruddy Turn- 

 stone. 



Fairly common migrant along the coast and on the Santa Barbara Islands. 

 .A specimen was taken at Santa Barbara by C. P. Streator in the fall of 1885 

 (Orn. & Ool. XI, 1886, 89), and A. B. Howell took several specimens in the same 

 locality in late August and early September, 1911 (Condor xiv, 1912, 11). 

 His first specimen was secured August 28. H. Robertson took an immature 

 bird at Long Beach, Los Angeles County, August 24, 1897 (Bull. Cooper Orn. 

 Club I, 1899, 94), and I took a female at Sunset Beach, Orange County, Sep- 

 tember 20. 1901 (Condor x, 1908, 50). 



C. P). Linton found the species fairly common on the rocky shores of San 

 Nicolas Island from March 30 to May 11. 1910. Nineteen specimens taken by 



