“30 . THE CONDOR Vol. XXIV 
Heermann Gull (Larus heermanni). An adult male was brought to me on March 
20, 1919. It had been found dead on Pinos Altos Mountain, nine miles north of Silver 
City. On making up the skin I found the bird to be in very poor flesh, and a small shot 
found in its body indicated that it had been crippled, probably on one of the small irri- 
gation ponds south of here. Mrs. Florence Merriam Bailey advises me that this is a new 
record for New Mexico. : 
Great-tailed Grackle (Megaquiscalus major macrourus). 1 took an adult male 
May 24, 1920, on an irrigation pond on the Mimbres River, thirty miles southeast of here. 
No others could be found at this time or on several subsequent trips. Mrs. Bailey advises 
me that the only other records for the state are of a specimen taken at Las Cruces May 
15, 1913, and a report of a pair nesting at La Mesa. 
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica). A female was taken May 22, 1921, on the 
Mimbres River, thirty miles southeast of here, in Luna County. It was flying alone at 
about six Pp. M. Wing measures 127.1 mm., and tail 42.4 mm. I am indebted to J. Eugene 
Law for identification and measurements.—R. T. KeELLoaeG, Silver City, New Mexico, Oc- 
tober 24, 1921. 
Notes on the Voice of the California Screech Owl.—The following notes and ob- 
servations were made in the vicinity of Palo Alto, California, from June 1 to November 
a, 1921: 
The California Screech Owl (Otus asio bendirei) is a very tame and friendly 
bird. At times one can be approached to within arm’s length. One curous fact 
is that when a light is put full in the face, at distances ranging from five to twenty 
feet, the bird does not seem to be in the least blinded, but looks over and past the light, 
and stares at the face of the observer. The eyes do not ordinarily glow, but are very dis- 
tinct, the pupil and iris standing out in strong contrast. On only one occasion have I 
seen this rule broken. The owl in this case was within five feet, and on the same level 
with the light. It looked steadily at my face, over the light, but its eyes glowed with 
a soft honey color. 
I have divided the calls under six separate headings, but there are a great many 
more, as they shade off into each other a good deal. The six noted here, however, are 
always clear and distinct. The first is the familiar, soft, quavering, ‘‘o0-00-00’, known 
to nearly everyone. It is generally repeated steadily and monotonously. It seems to be 
a call of contentment, given when the bird is full fed. 
The second is the same as the first, but with a soft whistling undertone, such 
as is produced by whistling with the edge of a card against the lips. I have heard this 
call only during the breeding season. It seems to be used to call another bird. On 
several occasions I have found a pair of the birds sitting side by side, one of them, pre- 
sumably the male, giving this call, while the other answered with a sharp whistle. The 
two calls were exchanged, back and forth, for some time as though the birds were car- 
rying on a conversation. 
Number three is a liquid, clucking, “prit, prit’, which seems to indicate curi- 
osity. It is sometimes accompanied by a snapping of the beak. One bird swooped at 
me on several consecutive nights, going over my head and snapping his bill fiercely as 
he passed. I finally turned my light on him when at the bottom of his swoop and within 
arm’s length, which seemed to disconcert him, as he flew into a neighboring tree and 
began to cluck and snap his beak. 
The fourth is a loud clear scream, a most blood-curdling sound. It may be said 
to resemble the screeching of an enraged cat. I have heard it on only one occasion. It 
was repeated several times on the night of August 7, 1921, though whether by the same 
individual each time I could not determine. When I approached the tree from which 
the screaming came, the owl dropped into the inquiring, ‘“‘prit, prit’’. 
Number five is a guttural croaking, sounding exactly like the croaking of a heron. 
I have heard this call on only two occasions. The first time I was unable to get my 
light on the bird, and thought it a night heron, but the second time I saw the owl plain- 
ly. The call consists of only a single note. 
The sixth is a high pitched, whining note resembling the crying of a puppy. 
The first three calls are the most common. In fact after midnight there is nearly 
always an owl within hearing giving one of the calls. They can and do change from 
