Mar., 1908 SPRING NOTES PROM SANTA CATATINA ISLAND 67 



fastened to the twig by the aid of spider-web, the same substance being used to 

 adhere green moss to the outside. Occasionally vegetable down was used in the 

 lining. The dimensions of two nests are as follows: 



I. Outside — Diameter, 59 mm., depth, 37 mm. Inside — Diameter, 35 mm., 

 depth, 15 mm. II. Outside — Diameter, 47 mm., depth, 35 mm. Inside — Diam- 

 eter, 27 mm., depth, 15 mm. 



The males resorted to the wild tobacco bushes {Nicotiana glaiica) which grew 

 abundantly in the washes. They were very pugnacious little fellows, constantly 

 fighting and chasing one another about. 



Sayornis nigricans. Black Phcebe. A single individual w^as heard on the 

 morning of April 18, 1906. This was the only one noted. 



Empidonax difficilis. Western Flycatcher. One of the most abundant birds 

 on the Island. Found wherever there is shrubbery, from the shore to the highest 

 ridges. The birds were in pairs and the breeding season was apparently just be- 

 ginning, one partly completed nest being found. 



Some time was spent in watching the owners of this nest. One of the birds 

 would work on the nest, while the other, presumably the male, would place itself 

 in an exposed position to ward off intruders. Evidently it classed all birds as in- 

 truders, for an innocent Dusky Warbler, which happened to alight in the tree, was 

 instantly driv^en off, leaving behind a goodly number of feathers. 



The inadvisability of retaining the name '' insulicohf' for the Empidonax from 

 the Santa Barbara Islands has been discussed in previous numbers of The Condor^ 

 and will not be reiterated here. 



Corvus corax sinuatus. Mexican Raven. Very common. Most any time sev- 

 eral could be seen flying about, and uttering a peculiar clicking note. 



On April 19, 1905, a nest containing six eggs was found. It was built in a 

 wild cherry tree fifteen feet from the ground, and was made of good-sized sticks, 

 lined with black and white sheep's wool. Incubation was fresh in every ^^^ but 

 one, that being slightlj^ addled. 



Icterus cucullatusnelsoni. Arizona Hooded Oriole. Heard once on April 16, 

 1906. Probably more common later, as I have observed them a number of times in 

 the summer. 



Carpodacus mexicanus dementis. San Clemente Dinnet. Abundant in the 

 eucalyptus trees about Avalon and in the cactus patches farther inland where they 

 were nesting. Many partially finished nests and incomplete sets were noted, indi- 

 cating that the breeding season had just begun. The nest is built on a branch of 

 cactus usually well in toward the center of the patch, and is composed outwardly 

 of weeds and like substances, lined with grass and sheep's wool. A set of four 

 eggs taken are essentially like those of the mainland form. 



Astragalinus psaltria hesperophilus. Green-backed Goldfinch. Observed sev- 

 eral times in the \^ eed patches on the hillsides. 



Astragalinus lawrencei. Eawrence Goldfinch. Eawrence Goldfinches were 

 seen several times flying overhead, uttering their characteristic metalic notes the 

 while, but were not as common as the Green-backed. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli. Intermediate Sparrow. Quite common in 

 the washes. As they are known to be an abundant winter visitant ^ probably the 

 bulk of them had gone north before my arrival. 



Zonotrichia coronata. Golden-crowned Sparrow. Seen on several occasions 

 in 1906 but not detected in 1905. They frequented the washes in company with 

 the previously named species. 



i See Condor Vol VII, No. 2, pp. 51-52; and Condor Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 74. 

 3, See Auk Vol. XV, No. 3, p. 235. 



