Nov., 1917 FROM FIELD AND STUDY 187 



fairly plentiful, it would be no trouble for these birds to hold their own, for there are 

 few men whom a few hundred feet of this manzanita tangle will not discourage. Over 

 the Sierran divide to the west, conditions are somewhat different, for the hillsides are 

 practically all densely wooded, and although grouse (but not quail, apparently) occur in 

 satisfactory numbers in the vicinity of the lower aspen thickets, their numbers are likely 

 to be reduced seriously only in the vicinity of the main automobile roads, which are few 

 and far between. 



In the foothills of western Owens Valley, Plumed Quail, with quantities of Valley 

 Quail (Lophortyx c. vallicola) at a slightly lower elevation, are more abundant than they 

 are in middle Mono County, but in the vast stretches of brush they have a safe retreat 

 and are well able to take care of themselves. 



Pheasants (Phasianus torquatus) have been introduced into the upper part of 

 Owens Valley, and are often to be seen feeding familiarly beside the roads. The area 

 suited to them is the cultivated strip along the lower slopes, and here they have been 

 quite firmly established for a number of years. They are holding their own, and even in- 

 creasing, I am told, but the suitable territory is so limited that if the birds are ever al- 

 lowed to be shot, their extermination would be speedy, and, I am convinced, they could 

 not survive open seasons for two years. 



The Sage Hen (Centrocercus urophasiantcs) , which now occurs and breeds regu- 

 larly as far south as the vicinity of Big Pine, is confined to the sage brush at the bot- 

 toms of the valleys. In such locations they prove to be easy prey to hunters, and their 

 complete protection comes none too soon, for their numbers are decreasing annually. 

 The favorite method of hunting them is to track them over the dry sand through the 

 brush, or, in late fall, through the snow. Not only do local ranchers account for many, 

 and will do so still, probably, in spite of the law, but up to the present year, numbers of 

 so-called sportsmen who went from the larger cities for the purpose, hired men to locate 

 flocks of the birds and drive them towards the hunters. I fear that the good roads move- 

 ment in the west will prove to be an effective extinctive agency for this grand game, un- 

 less prompt and stringent measures are adopted by all the states interested in its per- 

 petuation. — A. B. Howell, Covina, California, October 8, 1911. 



Two New Records for the State of Washington. — It gives me great pleasure to 

 record the two following species, which are, to the best of my belief, new to the state of 

 Washington. Both captures were made by Mr. Carl Lien at Westport, Washington. The 

 quoted information following was supplied by Mr. Lien. 



Sterna caspia. Caspian Tern. "On October 5, 1917, on the mudflats, I ran across 

 a Caspian Tern that someone had shot, and a young man who was with me said, T saw 

 eight or ten of those birds flying around here yesterday'. I could not save the skin, as 

 a hawk or something else had torn it too badly." Mr. Lien did, however, get one of the 

 wings in order to have a proof of the record, and Mr. J. Grinnell has kindly examined it 

 and endorsed the record. 



Tryngites subruficollis. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. "I had to cross a salt marsh, 

 or grass-covered tide-flat, and towards the upper end where the marsh edges off into the 

 sand, two of these quiet and confiding birds were to be seen. This was on September 1, 

 1917, and on September 2, I saw them again." The next day, September 3, Mr. Lien re- 

 turned and collected both birds, which were male and female. This was at Westport, 

 Chehalis County, which borders on the Pacific Ocean. This species is so extremely rare 

 on the Pacific coast that Mr. Lien's notes are of interest as showing in what sort of local- 

 ity other observers should look for it. — J. H. Bowles, Tacoma, Washington, October 

 29, 1911. 



