356 University of California Publications in Zoology. ["Vol. 7 



lucifer in the Museum collection from the San Jacinto and San 

 Bernardino mountains of southern California, and the task of 

 finally determining their status must be reserved for some spec- 

 ialist of the future. 



Habits. — Shortly after we started from Quinn River Cross- 

 ing, June 8, our attention was attracted by the buzz of a rattle- 

 snake beside the road. It resisted capture to the utmost, fighting 

 desperately. In this respect it was different from several others 

 secured later, which were very sluggish and could only with 

 difficulty be induced to rattle. 



While we were encamped at Big Creek Ranch a small rattler 

 was brought in from Granite Creek, six miles north of Big Creek. 

 On July 20 a Crotalus was killed in the garden at the Dugout 

 Camp, 5000 feet altitude, in Big Creek Canon. 



A pair of snakes were taken at Leonard Creek Ranch. The 

 two were lying very close together in some tall weeds, and had 

 probably been copulating, as the male had one hemipenis pro- 

 truded. These snakes rattled little and were particularly slug- 

 gish of movement. 



The scarcity of rattlesnakes was to us surprising. Residents 

 of the region testified to their greater abundance in former years. 



THE BIRDS 



Larus delawarensis Ord. 



Ring-billed Gull 



The only species of gull observed. On the first day of June 

 an individual was noted fleeing down the Quinn River before 

 the attacks of a belligerent avocet. No specimens were preserved. 



Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (Gmelin) 

 Black Tern 



Two black terns were observed on May 19 at Quinn River 

 Crossing flying erratically and excitedly back and forth over the 

 marsh. Possibly the species was breeding in this locality. No 

 specimens were preserved. 



