48 THE NIDOLOGIST 
Wild Turkey (J/. gallopavo)—This bird 
has been regarded as practically extinct in 
this locality, for the past few years. An 
old Turkey hunter informed me that last 
fall he tracked a flock of about a dozen 
birds several miles on the low lands south 
of the city, and other hunters stated they 
had seen birds fi that vicinity. Possibly 
as aresult of our game laws, the species 
may be on the increase. 
A Pigeon Hawk (F. colombarius) was 
brought to me last October, making my 
first record for this county. 
N. A. Eppy. 
Bay City, Mich. 
<2 
Birds of Golden Gate Park. 
Golden Gate Park, the great pleasure 
ground of San Franciscans, is situated in 
the western portion ofthe city. It was 
commenced from the sand-dunes in 1874, 
and now covers one thousand and thirteen 
acres, being three miles long by a half a 
mile wide. Its forests area delight to the 
Oologist, and also furnish many a home for 
the feathered tribe. 
Often have I sat ona 
some shady ‘‘scrub-oak’’ tree, with wild 
blackberry vines forming a canopy over- 
head, and studied the habits of our feathered 
frlends. On April 20, ’95, I noticed a pair 
of Wren-tits in the Park scratching among 
the leaves and dirt. I did not pay much 
attention to them at first, but when turn- 
ing about on the bench on which I sat I 
saw the female with some Quail feathers, 
hopping from limb to limb until she was a 
few feet back of me in the vines. I turned 
around, and what should I see but Mrs. 
Wren-tit building her nest. I wrote the 
location down in my note book,and resolved 
to visit her in a few days. While going 
home I stumbled across a nest of California 
Bush-tit. As it was pretty early for eggs, 
I did not disturb the nest, but put it down 
in my note book also. 
On April 30 I went out to the Park to 
collect my nests (or rather the birds’ nests). 
I went in through the Hayes street entrance 
and took the path leading toward the Wren- 
tit’s nest. There were too many people 
around to begin operations, so lsat down 
on a bench and took it cool for a while. I 
waited patiently for half an hour or so, but 
instead of the people going away, it seemed 
to me asif more came. I waited a little 
bench, beneath 
longer, and seeing no one around, I got 
down on my hands and knees and began to’ 
crawl under the blackberry vines, when 
suddenly I heard footsteps. I ‘‘laid low’’ 
and held my breath, for if a Park Police- 
man’’ (or ‘‘star bird’’ as they are called) 
should catch you, it would be twenty dol- 
lar fine or twenty daysat the city’s ex- 
pense. I kept my position until I heard — 
the footsteps die away, and then proceeded 
on my crawling expedition. I was now 
near enough to stand up and reach the nest. 
This was no easy task, for the vines were 
twisted among the branches and thus pre- 
vented the hand from reaching it. I took 
out my knifeand began to cut the vines, 
when again I heard footsteps coming right 
in the direction I was standing. My heart 
began to thump upand down,and I thought 
I would have a free ride to the City Hall, 
when I saw a lady and gentleman come and 
take the seat a few feet from me. There I 
was again penned up. I waited for a while 
for the parties to go away, but they did not 
stir. I looked at my watch; it was five 
minutes past 4. I waited a little while 
longer, and still they did not move. I be- 
gan to think I wouldn’t get home that 
night at all, when the lady said: ‘‘Gracious 
me!* quarter of 5; I will have to be going 
home,’’ and they got up and left. Once 
more I felt good and was inmy right 
senses. I lost no time in cutting the vines 
this time, so I could reach the nest. When 
this was complete I pulled the nest out 
without looking in it to see whether it con- 
tained eggs or not. But there among the 
feathers and moss lay four little pale blue 
eggs. I packed the treasures in a little tin 
box which I had brought for the purpose, 
crawled out the same way I got in, and 
made a bee line fora cable car. Going 
home I said to myselt: ‘‘That’s the hardest 
job I ever undertook in my life for a bird’s 
nest.’’ I didn’t think about the Bush-tit’s 
nest until I was safe at home, and I assure 
you I made up my mind to leave it alone. 
Other birds that I have noted in Golden 
Gate Park are: California Partridge, Law- 
rence’s Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler,Golden- 
crowned Sparrow, Plain Titmouse, Bewick’s 
Wren, Gambel’s Sparrow, Song Sparrow, 
Russet-backed ‘Thrush, California Jay, 
Anna's Hummingbird, Californian Towhee, 
and Rufous Hummingbird. I think I can 
safely say these birds breed in the Park. 
AGS Cis 
San Francisco, Cal. 
3 
¢ 
§ 
¥ 
Y 
: 
‘ 
