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98 THE CONDOR Vol. XXIV 
rather expected to hear of its presence in the Imperial Valley, in common with a number 
of other birds which are extending their ranges over the irrigated delta of the Colorado 
River. Taken in this connection only, this note may prove of interest.—A. BRAZIER 
Howe t., Pasadena, California, February 8, 1922. 
Some Winter Birds of the Colorado Delta.—On January 22 and 23. of this year 
I was with a party hunting quail near Don Lorenzo in Lower California. We were from 
forty to fifty miles east of Calexico, and from twelve to sixteen miles south of the inter- 
national line. 
North of us we could see the sand hills that are still untamed if not unconquered, 
and beyond them the well-known mountain ranges of the desert. But we were not in a 
desert country at all—rather in a jungle. The true delta of the Colorado is overflow 
land, thickly covered with vegetation; ink-weed, rag-weed, and arrow-weed are the na- 
tive names of the most common kinds. A few cotton-woods and many willows in the 
lower places, and the ever present mesquite patches, broke the monotony. The ground 
is not really level. Wind and water have combined to produce hills and depressions, 
and open places where sand was master were by no means rare. Still, in a general sense, 
we were on the edge of a flat scrubby country of several thousand square miles, covered 
solidly with a head-high growth that could be penetrated only with difficulty. 
There was hardly a time when one or more of the Raptores were not in sight. 
When I woke the first morning a pair of Marsh Hawks were busily harrying the cotton- 
fields by the ranch house. Our old friend, the Western Red-tail, was conspicuously 
present, as were several other species of hawks and at least two species of owls besides 
the Burrowing Owl. Turkey Vultures were common. All of which speaks volumes for 
the abundance of the unseen rodent life in the brush. 
The White-crowned Sparrow, in my judgment, was the most common bird, and 
Gambel Quail the next. Abert Towhees were seen everywhere, and the Mexican Ground 
Dove and the Northern Cactus Wren were very abundant, though both were outnumbered 
by the Western Mourning Dove. The Black Phoebe was as busy as anywhere around 
ponds and buildings. Ravens were plentiful, especially along the banks of the Bee River. 
I collected three Sparrow Hawks for the San Diego Museum. 
Among other land birds observed were Shrike, Thrush, Bush-tit, Vermilion Fly- 
catcher, Dwarf Cowbird (quite common), Road-runner, Phainopepla, Tree Swallow, and 
Sonora Red-wing. 
On January 24 we drove back to Hecheira and then turned south. We found a 
slough within eight or ten miles on which we shot ducks, mostly Spoonbills. My son and 
I each killed one of a pair of Fulvous Tree Ducks, and were much surprised to find 
them so far north at this season. There was a heavy tule growth around the slough, 
which was the home of innumerable marsh wrens, and the Sora was more common than 
I have ever seen it elsewhere. | 
We drove on to Volcano Lake and spent one morning there. Ruddies and Spoon- 
bills were the most common ducks. Avocets, too, were present in large numbers. I was 
interested in obtaining from Mr. W. G. Hendricks an authentic statement of the pres- 
ence there of the Roseate Spoonbill. In the summer of 1920 a flock of about twenty were 
on the lake, and in the summer of 1921 four were observed. A flight of Lesser Snow 
Geese apparently takes place over this lake every winter.—GrirrInc BANcRortT, San Diego, 
California, February 1, 1922. 
Water Ouzel Eating a Fish.—On January 1, 1922, I caught sight of a small, plump 
bird struggling with something on a snow bank across the river, a foot or so from the 
water’s edge. The bird was recognized at once as an Ouzel (Cinclus mexicanus unicolor). 
It appeared to have a small fish in its beak, which it was shaking violently and beat- 
ing in the snow. I went to the tent and got the field glasses and was able to determine 
that it really was a fish that the Ouzel was struggling with. The fish was about two 
inches long and very much alive. After beating and mauling the fish for a few mo- 
ments the Ouzel would attempt to swallow it. At this juncture the fish would free itself 
and flop onto the snow, whereupon the Ouzel would seize it and the maltreatment would 
commence again. After tussling with the refractory fish for about five minutes the 
Ouzel with apparently tremendous effort managed to stuff the victim down. After the 
