120 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 12 



March 16 one was seen below Parker. March 25 about fifty night 

 herons were found at a tule pond below Ehrenberg. Of these, approx- 

 imately forty were in the streaked immature plumage, only the 

 relatively small remaining proportion being fully adult-plumaged birds. 

 Farther down the river the species was common, being often startled 

 from diurnal roosting places in the willows bordering the river. Indi- 

 viduals were not seen stalking fish during the day, as did the blue 

 herons; but their activity about sloughs and mud bars began with the 

 dusk of evening, and. as indicated by their voices, continued all night. 



Among the adult specimens are some, no.' 12643 in particular, 

 which are extremely pale, almost pure white beneath, with the outer 

 surfaces of the closed wings very light lavender. These are noticeably 

 paler than the few specimens at hand from elsewhere. We found no 

 indication, however, that the species occurs in the region otherwise 

 than as a migrant and winter sojourner. 



There is in the Museum an immature specimen (no. 4496) taken 

 by J. G. Cooper at Fort Mohave. March 12, 1861. 



Grus canadensis (Linnaeus) 

 Little Brown Crane 



Cranes were seen daily, March 1 to 8, in northward flight past 

 The Needles. A large flock spent the night of March 9 on a mud bar 

 in the river at the lower end of Chemehuevis Valley. This roosting 

 ground was about midway between the high wooded banks of the river, 

 and about two hundred yards from either bank. The cranes had thus 

 selected a place which could not be approached except in the open, 

 and were evidently on their guard all night. They were just opposite 

 our camp ; every now and then something would disturb them and a 

 chorus of sonorous calls and wing-flappings would ensue for a minute 

 or more. 



It is believed that these migrating cranes are more likely to have 

 been Grus canad( nsis than Grus mexicana. I believe the latter to be 

 far less common, especially of late years, than generally supposed. 



Eecurvirostra americana Gmelin 



Avocet 



There is in the Museum a skin, no. 7069, taken probably by W. W. 

 Holder, at "Mineral City" (=Ehrenberg) T February 12, 1864. 



