62 THE CONDOR Vol. XIX 



lationships with man after the manner of the Eastern Robin to which it is so 

 closely related. 



The English Sparrow was introduced some forty years ago and has in- 

 creased enormously. The Brewer Blackbird is probably another late addition 

 to the breeding birds of the county, as it was listed as rare some years ago and 

 is now abundant. The nesting of the Barn Swallow does not seem to have been 

 noted before and it is likely that it is increasing in numbers as is also the Cliff 

 Swallow. The nesting of the Pigeon Guillemot is of especial interest. This 

 seems to be a case of a species returning to the nesting place of its ancestors 

 after years of absence from the ancestral homesite. 



It is our opinion that many of the species of birds mentioned in this list 

 are increasing in the county. This is largely due to the protection given them 

 in Golden Gate Park. The custom of the park management, however, of shoot- 

 ing the male mallards during the winter is to be deplored. Such shooting drives 

 away the more timid waterfowl and thus keeps many of the rare species out 

 of the park. There are already three times as many female mallards as male 

 mallards in the park, as any one can see for himself by counting them. Given 

 adequate protection, the number of birds in the park ought to go on increasing 

 for years. 



The Lake Merced region is a natural bird refuge, and it would be the part 

 of wisdom to make it such in fact. If the waterfowl and other species of birds 

 found there were given adequate protection the bird life of the region would 

 in a few years be such as to surpass the expectations of the most sanguine — an 

 unending source of pride, pleasure, and profit to all right thinking people of 

 this generation and to all the generations that are to come. 



San Francisco,- California, December 20, 1916. 



GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION IN SPHYRAPICUS THYROIDEUS 



By H. S. SWARTH 

 (Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California) 



THE acquisition during recent years by the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of 

 fairly representative series of Williamson Sapsuckers from various parts of 

 California led to the careful examination of these birds to determine wheth- 

 er more than one recognizable race might be included among them. A prelim- 

 inary survey of the Museum series disclosed the need of additional material from 

 certain points, and the necessary specimens were borrowed from the collection of 

 John E. Thayer, from the Museum of Comparative Zoology, through Mr. Outram 

 Bangs, and from the collection of the Geological Survey of Canada, through Mr. 

 P. A. Taverner. There are in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, including the 

 Grinnell, Morcom and Swarth collections, ninety-nine specimens of this species. 

 Altogether 123 skins were examined. 



Critical study of specimens from various parts of the Pacific Coast, from 

 British Columbia to southern California, always with due regard to seasonal and 

 other variations, shows no tangible differences in either sex, existing between 

 birds from different latitudes, contrary to a first impression that the northern 

 individuals were of appreciably larger size. 



