82 University of California Publications in Zoology. [Vou.5 
ting,—with one exception. One of a set of four fresh eges, taken 
June 23, 1906, is sparsely but very distinctly dotted, chiefly about 
the larger end, with burnt umber. It resembles in this respect 
the spotted type of black phoebe’s eggs. Eggs found in July 
after the rains began were more or less discolored by a brownish 
tint from contact with the wet nest materials. In shape the eggs 
are usually ovate, sometimes short-ovate or even rounded-ovate. 
Forty-three eges average in size .69.54 inches. Extremes are 
75 & .56 and .65 & .51. It will be observed that the short diam- 
eter of eggs is much less subject to variation than the length. 
Ninety skins of the gray flycatcher were taken, of which the 
majority are young. In this series there is a considerable amount 
of variation in coloration. Some, both adults and young, are 
extremely pale gray above and below; others, irrespective of sex, 
are sulphur yellow abdominally, and more greenish or olive dor- 
sally. Mr. Ridgway’s suggestion (Bds. N. & Mid. Am., Pt. IV, 
1907, pp. 568, 570) that a sort of dichromatism exists in this 
species (as well as in £. wright’) seems to be sustained by my 
specimens. I cannot see that the hg¢ht and dark phases are cor- 
related with either age, sex, or season. The only drawback to 
the dichromatism idea is that there are intermediates between 
the extremes, so that it might better be considered a wide-ranging 
individual variation. 
Otocoris alpestris actia Oberholser. California Horned Lark. 
One juvenal was seen on the meadow at Bluff lake, July 27, 
1905, the only record for that place. During the succeeding 
week several were seen in the pastures along the south side of 
Bear lake. In August large numbers were seen on the north 
side of Baldwin lake. Seven specimens were secured including 
young and adults in various stages of moult. Two adult males 
have enough of the new plumage to warrant their identification 
as actia. 
The most unexpected record for this bird was obtained on 
the very summit of San Gorgonio peak, 11,485 feet altitude. On 
July 16, 1906, I found fully twenty horned larks there, about 
the edges of the snowbanks. They were in companies of six or 
eight, or else in pairs. The one taken was an adult male in worn 
