THE NIDOLOGIST 83 
FIELD 
NOTES: 
NOTES ON ALBINOS. 
ON A RECENT visit in the neighborhood 
of Point Conception, I had the good fortune 
to capture a partially white California Tow- 
hee, and a perfect albino of what I take to 
be Gambel’s Sparrow. In the P2pilo, a 
peculiarity is noticed in the alternate of the 
wicg feathers, the first primary on one 
side being white, and brown on the oppb- 
site wing, andso on with more or less regu- 
larity. I was told that this bird had been 
seen in the same locality for nearly three 
years past. Several persons have reported 
seeing a partially white Turkey Buzzard 
during the past two seasons in the vicinity 
cf the settlement known as Naples on the 
coast. 
A. P. REDINGTON. 
Santa Barbara, Cal. 
* 
* * 
WINTER NOTES. 
BIRD LIFE is never very abundant at 
this season of the year with us. The pres- 
ent winter has been an open one with very 
little snow or severe cold. ‘The following 
are some of the species noted: 
Pine Siskin—A large flock of these birds 
was seen October 22. They seemed to pre- 
fer the yellow birch trees, feeding on the 
seed-cones. When actively at work there 
was a rain of seed-husks and excrement 
beneath the tree. They remained very 
common until about the middle of Novem- 
ber, when their place were taken by the 
Redpolls. 
Redpoll—Arrived in November and have 
been common ever since. ‘They are seen 
quite as frequently in the open fields feed- 
ing on the seeds of weeds, as in the woods. 
Apparently about one quarter of them have 
rosy rump and breast of varving intensity. 
Pine Grosbeak—First noted November 
19. Since then they have been occasionally 
seen in small numbers, two to five at a 
time. Ail I have seen have been in dull 
plumage with yellow on the head and 
rump. The tail feathers of one shot No- 
vember 30, were only partly grown, as 
though the moult was not complete, but 
the date would seem too late for that. 
Perhaps the bird had a narrow escape from 
the Hawk or in some way accidentally pulled 
out its tail. Some winters these birds are 
entirely absent, and only rarely are they 
common. ‘They are usually tame and un- 
suspicious and may be closely approached 
if one moves slowly and quietly toward 
them. Birds in full red plumage are rarely 
seen. I once saw a pair of Grosbeaks alight 
on the ice near an opening in the river, 
apparently to get a drink. Hopping to 
where the water overflowed the ice, they 
turned their heads, placing the side of the 
bill against the ice, and scooping up the 
water by a forward motion of the head. 
Their locomotion on the ice, which was very 
‘“‘glare’’ was amusing. They got along very 
well as long as they continued to hop, but 
when they tried to stop their legs spread 
apart and slipped from under them leaving 
them sliding along on their tails. 
Northern Shrike—A winter visitor rather 
than resident. Never very common. First 
seen this year on October 31. I once saw 
one of these birds fly some distance with a 
mouse, which must have been quite a bur- 
den. Unless I am much mistaken the 
mouse was carried in the claws, not the 
bill. 
Snowflake—This birds are most numer- 
ous during winters of much snowfall. This 
winter they have been scarce, only being 
seen at intervals. The first noted wasa 
flock of thirty on October 30, twenty-three 
days in advance of the first snow. My 
earliest date of arrival is October 20, 1892; 
latest date, April 10, 1893. 
Pileated Woodpecker—Seen once or twice 
winging its heavy, bounding flight from 
one block of woods to another. The few 
birds here do not seem to be decreasing in 
numbers. I think there are as many here 
now as there were five yearsago. Later in 
September I was given one of these birds by 
an acquaintance, who had shot it while out 
gunning. He said it flew from the ground 
to a stub where he shot it. It was a bird 
of the year, very ‘‘finefeathery’’ with tail 
and primaries but partly grown. ‘The red 
malar patch was complete as in an adult 
bird, however. The stomach was well stuff- 
ed with large black ants,wood-boring larvae 
and a considerable quantity of whole fruits 
and stones of the choke-berry, besides 
indistinguishable remains. 
