22 THE CONDOR Vol. XIX 



Chapman, F. M. 



1897. Preliminary Descriptions of New Birds from Mexico and Arizona. Auk, xiv, 

 pp. 310-311. 



Brief diagnosis (p. 311) of "Coccothraustes vespertinus mexicanus", 

 from Las Vigas, Vera Cruz, Mexico. 

 Ridgway, R. 



1901. Birds of North and Middle America. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 50, part i, pp. 

 xxx+715, pis. xx. 



Diagnoses (pp. 38-39), of three races of Hesperiphona — vespertina, 

 montana, and mexicana — and descriptions and synonymies of same (pp. 

 39-44). 



Berkeley, California, December 5, 1916. 



FROM FIELD AND STUDY 



Western Belted Kingfisher Breeding in San Diego County, California. — it is not an 

 uncommon occurrence to meet with an occasional Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon caurina) 

 near some river, slough or lake in this county; but not until this year have I succeeded 

 in locating a nest. This was quite accidental. 



On the 20th of April, 1916, while driving along a road bordering a lagoon near 

 Oceanside my curiosity was aroused by noting some dirt bluffs which formed the walls 

 of a steep narrow canyon. It at once suggested to me an ideal home for a Duck Hawk. 

 Without waiting to debate the question with myself I at once tied the horse and made 

 my way to the canyon. A few shots I knew would bring forth the falcons if present. 

 Imagine my surprise, however, as the echo from the report died away to hear the cack- 

 ling screeches of a Kingfisher. In a few moments it was joined by its mate coming in 

 from the lagoon. 



I dropped behind a bunch of brush and in a few moments one of the birds flew 

 directly to a small hole in the bluff and disappeared, while the mate returned to the 

 lagoon. 



The nesting cavity proved to be ten feet below the top of the bank and twenty feet 

 from the bottom. I soon secured a pick and shovel from a ranch a few miles distant and 

 started what proved to be a real task. Two hours of hard digging and a warm sun on 

 my back helped me to decide that it was too early anyway for a full set, so I left it for 

 a couple of weeks. 



On May 6 I returned resolved to reach the nest. After four hours of manual labor 

 I at last reached the soft stratum of sand in which the nest cavity was located. I had dug 

 my pit so that it would be to one side of the nest chamber, for by so doing I hoped to 

 reach the nest from the side, but I had not calculated on a winding tunnel and when 

 about a foot above the entrance my pick broke into the extreme end of the passage. I 

 cleaned away the loose sand and soon exposed a nest full of young fully feathered and 

 nearly ready to leave for the lagoon. There were six in all. They were very quiet and 

 made no remonstrance when removed from the nest and examined. They were all re- 

 turned to their underground passage which was carefully closed with a resolve that if I 

 ever found another Kingfisher's nest in San Diego County I would not wait until May be- 

 fore investigating. — N. K. Carpenter, Esconclido, California. 



Another Alaska Record for the Mourning Dove. — On September 1, 1916, while 

 standing on the dock at Hydaburg, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, a Mourning Dove 

 (Zenaidura macroura) flew by within twenty-five feet. This is the first time that I have 

 met with the species in the region. — George Willett, Elephant Butte, New Mexico, No- 

 vember 2.'i, 1916. 



The Florida Gallinule in San Francisco County. — On October 12, 1916, it was re- 

 ported to me that a Rail had appeared on Middle Lake, one of the Chain-of-Lakes, Golden 

 Gate Park, which did not resemble any of those most commonly seen. Accordingly I 



