180 THE CONDOR Vol. XXIV 
67. Toxostoma curvirostre curvirostre. Curved-billed Thrasher. Several thrash- 
ers of this species were seen, and the species no doubt breeds, on Padre Island, as young 
birds were found. 
68. Penthestes carolinensis agilis. Texas Chickadee. A common breeding spe- 
cies on Padre, seen also on several occasions on the mainland. Young birds were al- 
ready out of the nest on May 31. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY 
(1) Singley, J. A. List of Birds Observed at Corpus Christi and on the Lower Rio 
Grande. Geol. Surv. Texas, 4th Ann. Rept., 1891, pp. 364-375. 
(2) Hancock, J. L. Notes and Observations on the Ornithology of Corpus Christi and 
Vicinity, Texas. Bull. Ridgway Orn. Club, no. 2, 1887, pp. 11-23. 
(3) Chapman, F. M. On the Birds Observed Near Corpus Christi, Texas, During 
Parts of March and April, 1891. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., Aug., 1891, pp. 315-328. 
(4) Pearson, T. G. Notes on the Bird-life of Southeastern Texas. Auk, xxxvitl, Oct., | 
1921, pp. 5138-528, pls. xvI-xvII. 
(5) Strecker, J. K., Jr. The Birds of Texas. Baylor Univ. Bull., Jan., 1912, pp. 1-69. 
(6) Cahn, A. R. Summer Birds in the Vicinity of Lake Caddo, Harrison County, Tex- 
as. Wilson Bull., xxx11I, Dec., 1921, pp. 165-176. 
(7) Cahn, A. R. Notes on the Brown Pelican [in press, Natural History, American 
Museum ]. 
(8) Pemberton, J. R. Reddish Egrets of Cameron County, Texas. Condor, xxiv, Jan., 
1922, pp. 8-12, figs. 1-9. 
(9) Arthur, S.C. The Feeding Habits of the Black Skimmer. Auk, xxxvi1, Oct., 1921, 
pp. 566-574, pls. xx-xxI. 
Department of Biology, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, College 
Station, Texas, April 17, 1922. 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
Top Speed of the Road-runner.—While motoring along a paved road, August 15, 
1921, I had an unusual opportunity of recording the speed of the fast-running Road-run- 
ner (Geococcyx californianus). The road was situated just above the sea in a private 
estate known as the Hope Ranch, near Santa Barbara. We were just entering a long 
driveway bordered on either side with palms, and coasting along on about a three per- 
cent grade, when a Road-runner appeared a few rods ahead. The car gained on the bird 
until about five yards separated us, and I saw it was running at its utmost speed. I in- 
structed my friend, who was driving, not to press him further, and for fully three hun- 
dred yards the bird ran from the huge monster in pursuit, the while the speedometer 
registered exactly fifteen miles per hour. When finally we approached very closely, the 
bird gave up and flew into a palm, where I plainly saw it, beak agape and apparently 
much fatigued from the unusual exertion. Shortly after, I saw it sail to the ground and 
trot slowly away. 
The proximity of the car and the closely grown palms were undoubtedly the two 
obstacles that kept the Road-runner on a straight-away course. It seemed baffled; from 
its viewpoint the palms probably appeared like a solid hedge. During the run, the 
bird’s position was almost a straight line from beak to tip of tail. The tail drooped a 
little below the back and was frequently wagged up and down.—H. H. SHEtpon, Santa 
Barbara, California, June 15, 1922. 
A Southern Station for the Harlequin Duck.—The southernmost record-station 
for Histrionicus histrionicus on the Pacific Coast previous to the present note is Carmel 
Point, Monterey County, California (Beck, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th ser., 11, 1910, 
p. 69). 
About noon on October 8, 1918, at a place on the coast of San Luis Obispo County 
