Mar., 1908 NOTES FROM SAN CivEMENTB ISLAND 85 



Smugglers' Cove, October 15, I was surprised to see a Harris Sparrow appear 

 among them. Not having my gun I waited until the sparrow had finished a bath 

 and returned to the feeding grounds under the holly bushes nearby. I then se- 

 cured my "aux" from my father and awaited the sparrow's return for another 

 drink; this it did in about half an hour. This specimen differs slightly from two 

 specimens (of the same month) in my collection, from I,awrence, Kansas. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli. Intermediate Sparrow. Very common winter 

 visitant. 



Zonotrichia coronata. Golden-crowned Sparrow. Common winter visitant. 



Junco hyemalis thurberi. Sierra Junco. One specimen, secured at White 

 Rock Spring on the northeast coast, October 13, is probably thurheri. 



Amphispiza belli. Bell Sparrow. Common resident on the brushy portions of 

 the northwest half of the Island. 



Melospiza clementae. San Clemente Song Sparrow. Abundant resident. 

 Common in the yards at Rowland's, nesting in the scrub cacti and vines within a 

 few yards of the hacienda. March 31, three nests were found in the corral near the 

 stables; one contained four young one week old, the others having incomplete sets. 

 These nests were built a few inches from the ground in the center of the cacti 

 beds, which, being covered with a thick growth of vines, completely hid the nests. 

 A large series of skins preserved. 



Passerella iliaca insularis. Kadiak Fox Sparrow. Three specimens secured 

 in the stable yards, Rowland's, January 23 and February 7. October 5, February 

 8, and April 1 I secured other specimens near Mosquito Harbor. 



Pipilo clementae. San Clemente Towhee. None were seen within eight miles 

 of the northwest coast, but they were very common near Mosquito Harbor. The 

 "catbird" call of P. ni. megalonyx of the mainland, said to be "unknown to this 

 bird", I often heard; in fact it was the common note heard at this season. P. 

 dementcs is a shy and silent bird during breeding season, which probably accounts 

 for the statements of observers during that period, limiting his vocal attainments to 

 the ' 'towhee' ' call. During October the towhees were observed shaking the overripe 

 cherries from the twigs of the low hanging branches, then flying to the ground and 

 securing the well-earned delicacies. This curious operation I often watched them 

 perform . 



Piranga ludoviciana. Western Tanager. Several seen and two specimens se- 

 cured near Mosquito Harbor. 



Piranga rubra cooperi. Cooper Tanager. A ? specimen was secured by my 

 father, October 11, in the holly brush in a narrow valley on the high mesa near 

 Mosquito Harbor. Several Western Tanagers were observed here. 



Lanius mearnsi. San Clemente Shrike. Fairly well distributed over the 

 whole Island but extremely shy. March 7 I secured a ? with nest and five eggs, 

 incubation two-thirds. This nest is typical of the species; composed of dry twigs 

 and weed stems, thickly lined with rootlets and wool and well concealed in the 

 thick branches of a holly bush in a ravine near the northwest coast. Another nest 

 was found March 8 near the coast midway of the Island, containing one downy young 

 and two infertile eggs. Near Mosquito Harbor, March 19, I secured a ? and five 

 fresh eggs. The males were extremely shy, giving the alarm from their lookout 

 perches and leaving the vicinity of the nests immediately upon sighting the in- 

 truder. The three nests measure in inches as follows; 



