Mat, 1893.] 



BIRDS OP THE DEATH VALLEY EXPEDITION. 



as 35,000. One of two causes, or both combined, must account for the 

 death of so many. Either the water, which is saturated with salt and 

 soda, is in some way injurious to them, or remaining to search for 

 proper food, which does not exist in the lake, they become so weak from 

 innutrition as to be unable to fly and die of starvation. 



The mortality observed is not unusual, but seems to be of regular oc- 

 currence. Mr. Nelson, while camped at Keeler, in December, 1890, re- 

 ported large numbers of dead grebes along the shore, and further stated 

 that a light wind, blowing in shore, brought in half a dozen or more 

 recently dead and excessively emaciated birds. 



A specimen was secured on the reservoir at Furnace Creek, Death 

 Valley, by Mr. Bailey April 11, and another on Pahranagat Lake, where 

 many others were seen, May 24. Mr. Nelson saw a single individual in 

 a glacier lake at the head of San Joaquin River, which was more likely 

 the horned grebe; Mr. Stephens found several at Little Owens Lake, 

 • May 6-11; and Mr. Palmer observed eight or ten pairs, in full breed- 

 ing plumage, on Elizabeth Lake July 2, and several on Orane Lake, near 

 Gorman Station, Calif., June 28. Mr. Nelson saw the species at Buena 

 Yista Lake, in the San Joaquin Valley, in October, and found it com- 

 mon along the coast south of San Simeon in November. 



The horned grebe {Colymbus auritus) may have been associated with 

 the present species in some localities, but it was not identified. 



Record of specimens collected of Colymbus nigricollis californicus. 



Collect-! ~ 

 or's JTo.; hex - 



Locality. 



Date. 



Collector. 



Eemarks. 





Apr. 11, 1891 

 June 2, 1S91 



V. Bailey 





! d 





T. S. Palmer 









Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. 



A few dabchicks were seen by Mr. Nelson along the coast between 

 San Simeon and Carpenteria, in November. 



Urinator sp. ? 



Mr. Nelson reported loons as common along the coast south of San 

 Simeon in November. No adults were observed, all the birds being in 

 immature plumage and remarkably unsuspicious. It is probable that 

 the above note includes two and possibly three species, namely, the 

 Pacific, red-throated, and common loons. 

 Uria troilecalifornica. California Murre. 



The California murre was found by Mr. Bailey to be common along 

 the shore at Monterey, Calif., where a female was secured October 5. 



Larus glaucescens. Glaucous -winged Gull. 



Mr. Nelson found this species common along the coast of California 

 south of San Simeon in November. 

 Larus californicus. ' California Gull. 



Mr. Nelson saw three gulls of this species flying up Owens Biver, 

 California, opposite Lone Pine, in December, 1890. Along the shores 



