68 THE CONDOR é; Vol. XXIV. 
adult bird found by the junior author on September 15, 1921, and a late fall specimen 
collected by L. M. Huey on October 21, 1919, agree in showing conclusively that the des- 
ert race of horned owl is the form found in the extreme southern San Joaquin Valley. 
Whether pallescens has invaded the region in recent years and supplanted pacificus, 
which was formerly supposed to inhabit the section, or whether it has always been an 
established part of the local avifauna, is a debatable question. But the latter hypothe- . 
sis seems much the more logical when we consider that this region also supports other 
typical desert forms, such as the Leconte Thrasher and California Sage Sparrow. 
Otocoris alpestris ammophila: The horned larks breeding about Buena Vista Lake 
exhibit affinities that are distinctly analogous to those which characterize the horned 
owls of the region, in that they seem related to the form of the Mohave Desert, rather 
than to actia of the more northern portion of the San Joaquin. A series of breeding 
birds from the vicinity of the Lake do, in a few instances, show a slight tendency in the 
latter direction, but the great majority are so close to typical ammophila as to be refer- 
able with certainty to that form. Breeding birds from Corcoran, Kings County, Califor- 
nia, in the collection of A. B. Howell, are unqualifiedly actia, so that ammophila, in the 
San Joaquin, must be confined to the extreme southern end of the Valley.—D. R. Dickty 
AND A. J. VAN RosseM, Pasadena, California, January 138, 1922. 
Position of Feet in Flight in Certain Birds.—Here are several apparent “rules” in 
bird life that have interested me for some time, and they are passed on to the readers 
of THr Conpor for what they are worth. 
1. All water birds in flight extend the feet behind. 
2. All web-footed birds, with short tails, spread the toes in flight, the membranes 
apparently acting as an elevator or rudder. This group includes the murres, murrelets, 
auks, and puffins. 
3. All perching birds in flight fold the legs forward under the feathers. 
All the short-tailed, web-footed birds that I have had under c'ose observation, 
when getting under way do spread the toes, placing them side hy side to form a wide 
flat surface, which is no doubt useful in flight. By the time these birds may have at- 
tained their regular speed, possibly the toes are relaxed, but they are then as a rule 
too far distant for accurate observation. I am not so certain that loons follow this 
rule. Grebes, which are lobe-footed, spread the lobe flat out in rising from the water, 
and, I think, close the toes after attaining full speed—Gro. G. C1ntwett, Puyallup, Wash- 
ington, January 20, 1922. 
Further Remarks on the Occurrence of the Buffle-head at Eagle Lake.—We have 
read with interest Mr. Allan Brooks’s comment on our record of the occurrence of the 
Buffle-head at Eagle Lake, California. Mr. Ray had received a similar letter from Mr. 
A. C. Bent drawing his attention particularly to the error in the identification of the 
young ducks shown in figure 33 of the Condor for November, 1921. It is evident that 
these are young American Mergansers. We do not wish to take up space unnecessarily 
in a discussion of this matter, but we believe a further account of the circumstances 
may be of interest, especially so, as Mr. Brooks has brought up several questions of 
doubt regarding the identity of the young following the female Buffle-head and also 
the actions of the male bird. 
Mr. Ray and I feel positive that the young following the female are Buffle-heads 
and we can also vouch for the actions of the male Buffle-head. The error regarding the 
young ducks shown in figure 33, we believe, should and can be explained by the circum- 
stances leading to their capture. Upon our first encountering the female and eight 
young, we recognized this as a new breeding duck for this locality and during our ef- 
forts to obtain a photograph it was noted that two of the young made several attempts 
at diving and in this way became separated from the parent. The remaining six kept 
well up with the parent and seemed to obey each warning. The diving efforts of the 
two young and the maneuvering of our boat caused a complete separation of the two 
from the parent and the remainder of the flock. 
Several hours afterward, the two young of the photograph were found on the 
shore of the bay in which the female and young were encountered and not more than 
50 yards from the point where the photograph, figure 32, was taken, 
