Mar., 1919 BIRD NOTES OF A STORMY MAY IN COLORADO SPRINGS 65 
Aside from the migrations, the most interesting observations, I think, 
were on the Say Phoebes, which stayed about feeding on insects over the sur- 
face of the water, and then disappeared as soon as the weather became fairly 
good. The little flock of Scaups staying so long on the pond was also some- 
what remarkable. As I have seme above, the number of Myrtle Warblers 
was extremely unusual. 
Colorado Springs, Colorado, January 6, 1919. 
LOSSES SUFFERED BY BREEDING BIRDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
By H. ARDEN EDWARDS 
NY EFFORTS at estimating the probable increase or decrease of our na- 
tive birds must take into consideration the very considerable loss sus- 
tained by them during their breeding season. A record of such known 
losses shows a surprising percentage of eggs and young birds destroyed during. 
any one year, and the careful observer will at once notice a certain number of 
eontributing causes which are fairly constant. 
Taking these different factors in the order of their importance, we find 
that predatory mammals and birds hold first place. Preéminent among mam- 
mals is the common house cat; but the weasels, skunks, and coyotes also figure 
importantly. When I write predatory bird, my mind does not picture at once 
some noble faleon or swift flying raptor, but rather that skulking robber of the 
woodlands, the California Jay. Next as causes of loss come the rare storms of 
wind and rain, which, while of short duration, bring widespread damage, espec- 
lally to nests and eggs. Thirdly, there is the ignorance and carelessness of 
man, which adds no small amount of destruction to the general total. And 
lastly, we may include the partial sterility of the birds themselves. I say par- 
tial, as I have never come across an instance where an entire clutch of eggs was 
lost from this cause. 
To return to the first factor, we will naturally expect to see the preponder- 
ance of effect exerted here. Nature is always destructive in a constructive 
sense. Everything is sooner or later destroyed that something else may live. 
Death is written large upon every bird. The blossom only fulfills its purpose 
when it has faded and made way for the perpetuating seeds. So it is in bird 
life also; a bird may fulfill a purpose when it furnishes a meal for a wild ani- 
mal; but when it fails prey to a tame cat, I fear Nature has been cheated. 
Nature surely intends that no one species shall prey to excess upon some 
other species; therefore, the specialization which is evolved in the way of pro- 
tective coloration, and defensive organs and habits. Take, as a specific in- 
stance, the orioles. The South American branches of this family have devel- 
oped some remarkable methods of defense, such as that of the Caciques—which 
suspend their nests only in trees containing the nests of a very pugnacious spe- 
cies of wasp. Gadow tells us that in Mexico certain orioles have learned to tie 
their nests to the telegraph wires, where it is almost impossible for anything 
without wings to reach them. Our own North American species of oriole have 
learned to construct nests which insure a degree of safety, even from the 
marauding owl. 
