238 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES  [Proc. 4TH Ser. 
They were first found on Indefatigable, inland from Acad- 
emy Bay on the south coast, in the first half of November. 
There they were found commonly in the thickly vegetated 
region of the lower humid belt, usually feeding on the ground 
under bushes, often in flocks. More than once we shot at 
one, mistaking it for a rail, so skulking were its habits. 
When visiting Academy Bay again in January, they were 
noted as fairly common from the junction of the arid and 
humid zones up. They seemed to be lower down on this visit 
than on the last. I saw one near the beach. 
At the time of our third visit in the middle of July they 
were found in the arid region below 75 feet elevation. I did 
not visit the humid belt during our stay, so cannot say if they 
were there also. They did not seem to be common in the 
arid region. They were found, as formerly in the humid 
belt, under bushes, digging vigorously in the grass and dry 
leaves. 
On northwest Indefatigable, about 10 or 12 days later, I 
saw three in the tufaceous arid region near the coast, while 
Mr. Beck took three or four some miles inland. 
Mr. Beck stated that he found this species in the high, 
humid, thickly vegetated country on the south slope of Nar- 
borough. On April 4 he took a nest containing three fresh 
eggs on the top of the mountain. The parents were seen but 
not taken. The nest was of dry and green grass with some 
moss, and was placed in a small cactus at an elevation of 
five feet from the ground. 
The James Island birds are larger than those of Indefat- 
igable, but, like them, are ground finches in the strictest sense 
of the word. They were found commonly in the green zone 
at 1500 feet elevation in the James Bay region. A few were 
noted at an altitude of 2100 feet. This was in December and 
January. The specimens taken showed no particular enlarge- 
ment of the reproductive organs. They were found singly 
and in flocks feeding on the ground under the brush, and do- 
ing considerable scratching. The largest flock (say of 20 or 
30 birds) we came across was on a rather steep hillside. Dur- 
ing our visit to James Bay in August Mr. Beck took several 
in the lower part of the humid zone. None were found in the 
rough arid northeastern portion of the island, visited early in 
