10 ^THli CONDOR Vol. X 



Dr. J. K. Townsend informed Audubon that "The California vulture inhabits 

 the region of the Columbia River to a distance of five hundred miles from its mouth 

 and is most abundant in spring, at which season it feeds on the dead salmon that 

 are thrown upon the shores in great numbers. It is also met with near the Indian 

 villages, being attracted by the offal of the fish thrown around their habitations." 

 He also stated: "The California vultures cannot be called, however, a plentiful 

 species, as even in the situations mentioned, it is rare to see more than two or three 

 at a time, and these so shy as not to allow an approach to within a hundred yards, 

 unless by stratagem. Although I have frequently seen this bird, I have never 

 heard it utter a sound. The eggs I have never seen, nor have I had any account of 

 them, that I could depend upon. I have never heard of their attacking living ani- 

 mals. Their food while on the Columbia is fish almost exclusively, as this food is 

 always found in great abundance near the falls and rapids — they also feed on dead 

 animals. At Fort Vancouver I saw two feeding on the carcass of a pig." Altho 

 Townsend 's statement is convincing, some people have doubted the authenticity of 

 this record, since no one has since recorded the California condor in the region of 

 the Columbia River. Dr. Newberry, Dr. Suckley, and Dr. Cooper could find no 

 other records of the bird in Oregon. 



The most striking record on the present range of the California condor is one 

 from Douglass County in southern Oregon. This seems very unusual, as we can 

 find nothing else in recent years of the bird living between the San Francisco region 

 and this place, altho it is a stretch of several hundred miles. 



The Oregon records were given by Mr. George Peck and his son Mr. Henry 

 Peck, who are both reliable ornithologists, and who were both well acquainted with 

 the bird in southern California. Mr. Henry Peck informs me that on or about July 

 4, 1903, he and his father saw two California condors at Drain, Douglass County, 

 Oregon. They were quite high in the air and were sailing about over the moun- 

 tains. The elder Mr. Peck saw them several times after that. He states the birds 

 were instantly recognized by both of them. Again in March, 1904, Mr. Henry 

 Peck writes, "I saw^ four condors which were very close to me, almost within gun 

 shot. I recognized them first by their size, and second by the w^hite feathers under 

 their wings. The birds were all flying very low, as there was a high wind blowing." 

 Mr. Peck also gives the record of a condor that was killed on the coast of southern 

 Oregon a number of years ago. 



These records seem to show that if the California condor was formerly found 

 in the region of the Columbia river, the numbers have decreased and the last of 

 these northern birds seem to have taken refuge in the rough mountain regions of 

 southern Oregon, while the range of the condor in California has contracted to re- 

 gions from Monterey County south thru the mountains of the Coast Range and the 

 extension of the San Bernardino Range into lyOwer California. 



Po rtia n d, Or ego n . 



THE LOCUST-DESTROYING BIRDS OF THE TRANSVAAD ^ 

 By DR. FREDERICK W. D'EVELYN 



THE relation of birds to agriculture is one of much importance and is worthy 

 of the closest investigation as well as the fullest consideration in order to ar- 

 rive at results which constitute a safe experience for practical application. 

 The advance of civilization of necessity interferes with the natural order of things, 



a Paper read before the Cooper Ornithological Club of California, September 21, 1907. 



