66 THE CONDOR . Vol.. X 



sides, others reaching far into the interior of the Island. Their lower courses 

 widen out into sandy washes. 



Vegetation is heaviest on the shady north slope of the hills, and in the can- 

 yons containing water. In the latter localities, cottonwood trees {Populus 

 trichocarpa) attain a good hight, and here are also found groves of wild cherry 

 trees (Ccrasus lyoiii), and a species of scrub oak. The hillsides are covered with a 

 number of different kinds of brush, prominent among them being the scrub oak 

 and a sumac. 



These notes are the result of two brief sojourns on Santa Catalina Island in the 

 month of April, eight days being spent in 1905, and five in 1906. Fortunately 

 both trips were made after wet seasons; the hills were carpeted with grass, flowers 

 and insects were abundant. 



As practically all the time was given to the study of the land birds, only these 

 will be mentioned in the annotations to follow. 



One accustomed to a large and varied avifauna is at once impressed by the 

 scarcity of species on Santa Catalina Island. As one stops to rest in the canyons, 

 or looks out on the blue Pacific from a hill top, scarcely a sound is heard. To 

 be sure, one occasionally catches the song of a Mockingbird, the hoarse croak of a 

 Raven, or the faint note of a Warbler; but there is no ringing medley of bird voices 

 so often heard upon the mainland. 



Lophortyx catalinensis. Catalina Island Quail. Abundant both seasons. A 

 half -completed nest was found on a narrow ridge that overlooked the ocean. It 

 resembled the nests of the mainland species, being built of dried grass in a hollow 

 flush with the surface. 



Zenaidura carolinensis. Mourning Dove. Seen about springs where they 

 came to drink. The birds were paired at the time of my visits. An old nest was 

 found, proving the species to be resident. 



Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. On April 19, 1905, an individual of 

 this hawk was flushed from a thicket of scrub oak. This was the only one seen. 



Buteo borealis calurus. Western Red-tail. Common about the hillsides, 

 especially where ground squirrels are abundant. 



Haliseetus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. A number of bald eagles were seen 

 circling about the cliffs. 



Colaptes cafer collaris. Red-shafted Flicker. Flickers were seen but twice. 

 They are probably only winter visitors to the Island, as a diligent search in suit- 

 able places failed to reveal a single nesting hole. 



Phalaenoptilus nuttalli calif ornicus. Dusky Poor- will. Occasionally seen at 

 dusk in the wash back of Avalon. Altho no specimens were taken, the birds seen 

 were probably referable to this form. 



Aeronautes melanoleucus. White-throated Swift. White-throated Swifts were 

 often seen flying over a grassy ridge back of Avalon. After wasting much ammu- 

 nition, a beautiful female specimen was secured. 



Calypte anna. Anna Hummingbird. A few Anna Hummingbirds were seen, 

 but they were not nearly so plentiful as Selasphorus alleni. 



Selasphorus alleni. Allen Hummingbird. An abundant resident at the time 

 of both my visits; the breeding season was well advanced, many nests being found 

 which contained large young. The nests were nearly always built in oaks or cot- 

 tonwoods in narrow canyons where there was water. Only once did I find this 

 rule violated, in this instance the bird building its nest in a sumac which grew in a 

 sandy wash. 



The basis of the nest was, with a few exceptions, sheep's wool. This was 



