102 THE CONDOR Vol. XIX 



and continuously, evidently finding an abundance of food, without, however, prying off 

 Crustacea from the rocks as observed by Mr. Dawson at Santa Barbara. Whatever their 

 diet, it was gleaned with but small exertion amid the moist seaweed, and consumed in 

 great quantities and with avidity. 



Each individual was quick to resent intrusion, and the encroachment of a neigh- 

 bor upon another's "sphere of influence" usually resulted in a sharp "passage-at-bills", 

 three of which were noted within the short space of time the birds were under observa- 

 tion. The protective coloration feature of their autumnal plumage was very pronounced, 

 particularly in an instance where a bird crouched down for a moment, remaining im- 

 movable and almost invisible, the dusky gray of it's back blending most harmoniously 

 with the surf-worn rock. The contrast was the more noticeable because of the distinct- 

 ive appearance of the same bird while in motion, the upraised wings with their broad, 

 exposed portion of white, rendering it very conspicuous. 



Unlike many of our shore birds the initiative of all, in this particular case at least, 

 did not depend upon the alarm of some, and though it may be presumed that in any ex- 

 tended flight the wanderers clung together, yet the excited departure of three birds, 

 startled by a paper fluttering down the cliff, was but disinterestedly watched by the re- 

 mainder. The flock continued feeding for some moments longer, and then rising rapidly 

 one after another, swung about the point and disappeared. — George W. Schussler, San 

 Francisco, December 18, 1916. 



Vermilion Flycatcher at San Diego, California. — While visiting at Nestor, at the 

 south end of San Diego Bay on December 25, 1916, I saw a Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyro- 

 cephalus rubinus mexicanus) busily engaged in catching flies in front of the house where 

 I stayed. At the same place on March 17, 1906, I saw another individual of this species, 

 hawking for flies all day long from the fence. These are the only two I have ever seen 

 here, and it is curious that I should have seen them at exactly the same place. It is not 

 surprising that these birds should occur here occasionally, however, as there are no high 

 mountain ranges to bar them from leaving the desert region to the eastward. — Henry 

 Grey, San Diego, California, February 23, 1911. 



Early Nesting of California Brown Pelican on Anacapa Island, California. — I was 



on Anacapa Island on March 12, 1911, when there were about two hundred pairs of Peli- 

 cans (Pelecanus calif or nicus) on the island. None of them had eggs at that time, al- 

 though a few had started nest building. I visited the island again on May 12, 1912, find- 

 ing that the colony had not increased in size during the year. Most of the nests were 

 ready for eggs at that time, but there were only two fresh eggs to be found. On June 11, 

 1915, the colony had increased noticeably and had divided into two sections, one on the 

 top of the island and the other on the slope under the cliffs on the south side. The one 

 on top had a few newly hatched young, but in most cases there were eggs, fresh or nearly 

 so. In the colony on the south side all of the eggs had hatched, and most of the young- 

 were nearly grown. 



On March 7, 1916, we estimated that there were at least fifteen hundred pairs of 

 birds upon the island, in two colonies, as before. The nests on the south side contained 

 three eggs each; most of those on the top of the island were just completed, though one 

 set of three fresh eggs was seen there, and a few with two eggs. This year (1917) we 

 were on the island on March 2. There were at least two thousand pairs of Pelicans in 

 the colony, and they were already breeding. In fact, most of the eggs were heavily in- 

 cubated, and in one nest there was a newly hatched young, together with two eggs on the 

 point of hatching. Many sets of four eggs were seen, and one set of three was collected 

 containing a runt egg about the size of a hen's egg. 



From the above data it appears that the colony is increasing rapidly in numbers, 

 and that the birds are nesting earlier every year. — Sidney B. Peyton, Sespe, California, 

 March ?J h 1911. 



Early Nesting of the San Diego Song Sparrow. — Mr. P. J. Hartman tells me that 

 on February 20, 1917, he found a nest of the San Diego Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia 

 cooperi) near La Habra, Orange County, California. The nest was placed in a dock plant 

 ten inches above the ground, and contained four eggs with incubation going on. — W. Lee 

 Chambers, Los Angeles, California, February 23, 1011. 



