220 Jerrries, Birds observed at Santa Barbara. [July 
BIRDS OBSERVED AT SANTA BARBARA, 
CALIFORNIA. 
BY W. A. JEFFRIES. 
In THE early spring of 1883 the old Mission town of Santa 
Barbara in California, still a little off the main line of travel, 
seemed to offer to my brother and myself in search of quiet an 
escape from the ever flitting excursionist and the feeling of unrest 
and annoyance that his presence is very apt to cause his neighbor. 
Finding on our arrival, March 6, that it was not practicable 
to take rooms out of the town, we settled ourselves well out 
toward the Mission, on the edge of a lot several acres in extent 
covered with trees and shrubbery. Placed as we were, early 
morning collecting could not be done with regularity, as within the 
town limits shooting was not allowed, while our horses, upon 
which we relied almost entirely, could not be had before seven. 
Our habit was to make as early a start as possible, in the saddle 
if intending to go into the hills, in a buggy if up the valley. We 
collected either by shooting from the saddle when necessary, or 
on foot when, as seldom happened, the canons were inaccessible 
to our unshod native horses. 
At the time of our visit the edge of the town reached nearly to 
the Mission, beyond which the choice spots only were cultivated, 
much of the land being used for grazing. The shore line was 
partly a bluff, partly gently inclined beach with, as a rule, small 
lagoons or mud flats behind it, at all events land lower than the 
crown of the beach. Salt water marshes were absent. 
In every case where a scientific name is given we took skins. 
Birds simply seen, I omit. 
Previous to March 30 we failed to note any spring flight. 
Some of the species were present in larger numbers than on our 
arrival, but new comers were not noted. 
Tilled lands were the feeding grounds of Sturzella magna 
neglecta, Nanthocephalus xanthocephalus, and very large flocks 
of Scolecophagus cyanocephalus. Passing up the valley, Chon- 
destes grammacus strigatus, usually in pasture lands, Agelazus 
gubernator, near pools, as also -#gtalitis vocifera, were 
abundant, Large flocks of Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis 
