July, 1908 A BIT OF EARLY CALIFORNIA NATURAL HISTORY 137 



cording to the manner of the Indians of New Spain, holding in its hand, a figure 

 of the fun and moon. It happened, that when the foldiers came to fee this temple, 

 they found within the faid circle, two crows, confiderably larger than ordinary; 

 which at the approach of the Spaniards flew away, but alighted among the rocks in 

 the neighbourhood. The foldiers feeing them of fuch uncommon fize, fired their 

 guns and killed them. At this, an Indian, who had attended the Spainards as a 

 guide, fell into an agony. I was informed that they believed the devil fpoke to 

 them in thefe crows, and thence held them in great veneration. Sometime after, 

 one of the foldiers going that way, faw fome Indian women wafhing fifh on the 

 shore, but fome crows came up to them, and with their beaks, took the fifh from 

 their hands, whilst they observed a profound silence, not daring fo much as to look 

 at them, much lefs frighten them away. Nothing therefore could feem more horri- 

 ble to the Calif ornians, than that the Spainards fhould fhoot at thefe refpectable 

 birds'." 



Chicagu, Illinois. 



SUMMER BIRDS OF THE UPPER SAEINAS VAI^EEY AND ADJACENT 



FOOTHIEES 



By G. WILLETT 



THE following notes were taken from May 23 to June 3 of this year in the 

 Upper Salinas Valley and surrounding hills along the Monterey and San Uuis 

 Obispo county line. 



Owing to the short time given me for observation the appended list is undoubt- 

 edly very incomplete. Also owing to the semi-arid nature of this particular section 

 many birds that are common a few miles away are found here rarely or not at all. 

 For instance I did not note a single species of warbler altho I know that several 

 species breed within a few miles. I visited this locality about fourteen years ago 

 and I find the distribution of several species of birds considerably changed during 

 that time. 



In the Salinas river l:)ottom, which at San Miguel has an elevation of about 800 

 feet, are extensive groves of cotton woods and willows; and the surrounding hills, 

 which run up to an elevation of over 2500 feet, are covered with large oaks and 

 scattering groves of pines. 



Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. Common in river bottom. 



Ardea virescens anthonyi. Anthony Green Heron. Green Herons probably of 

 this species were common in river bottom but no specimens were taken. 



iEgialitis vocifera. Killdeer. Common along streams. 



Lophortyx calif ornicus vallicola ? Valley Partridge. Abundant, with half- 

 grown young. Owing to close season I took no specimens and am in doubt as to 

 subspecies as this must be about the dividing line between L. calif ornicus and L. 

 c. vallicola. 



Columba fasciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. A small flock seen in the hills on 

 Monterey side at about 2500 feet. 



Zenaidura macroura. Mourning Dove. Abundant. 



Gymnogyps calif ornianus. California Condor. I saw this species in this vicin- 

 ity fourteen years ago but saw none at this time altho I kept a careful lookout 

 for them. 



