Sept., I'Hl 
FIELD NOTES EROM SOUTII-CIENTRAL CALIFORNIA 
161 
of vegetation, but we found some small areas scantily covered with low lirush. At 
this point I found the Sage Thrasher ((h'oscoptes montaniis) , Leconte Thrasher 
{7'oxostotiia Iccoiitei), California Sage Sparrow {Aniphispiza ucvadens/s cauc- 
srr//s), and Brewer Sparrow {Spizclla brczvcri). 
Two Leconte Thrashers were secured on May 7, an adult male and a juvenal 
male, the latter with wing and tail feathers not yet at their full length, and un- 
doubtedly hatched somewhere in the immediate vicinity. These were all of the 
species that were met with. On May 13 two Sage Thrashers were seen in the same 
vicinity, and one of them, an adult male, w'as secured. The Sage Sparrow and 
Brewer Sparrow occurred wherever there was any brinsli, but, from the nature of 
the surroundings were not plentiful. Both species were remarkably shy and hard 
to approach, but could frequently be heard singing in the distance. 
Two rather hurried visits to the willow-covered river bottom just outside the 
town of Bakersfield, on May 6 atid 10, disclosed the pre.sence, in large numbers, of 
such species of birds as are found in similar situations throughout .southern Cali- 
fornia — Virco piisilliis, (Aiiraca cacntlca sa/ican'iis'^ , ZameJodia inclaiioccphala, 
Biitco Uucatiis c/c,Si'aiis,Pipiio maciilatus ))icgaloiiyx , and others. Song Sparrows 
{Me/ospiza niclodia hccrmamii) were exceedingly abundant, and specimens of 
both adults and young were taken. There were a number of Dwarf Cowbirds 
iMolothnis atcr obscunis) flying around. The males were going through the 
usual courting antics, uttering their ridiculous .squeaky “song”, and strutting 
about with raised wings and spread tail, and there can be no doubt that they were 
breeding in the vicinity. Specimens were secured. 
Our .second station was at McKittrick, where we remained from May 17 to 22, 
all our collecting being done within two miles of the town. McKittrick is at the 
edge of the hills, on the extreme south-western border of the San Joacpiin Valley. 
The surrounding country is much more densely covered with brush than at Bakers- 
field, but there is practically no water except such as is immped from deep wells, 
and consequently no agriculture anywhere in the region. Several Leconte Thrash- 
ers were seen here, and two secured, a full grown juvenal on May 18, and an adult 
on May 21. Birds were few in numbers at this point, about the commonest species 
being the California Sage Sparrow ( Auipkispiza b. aincsrcns^ , which was dis- 
tributed in moderate numbers through the chaparral. 
May 22 to 29 were spent at Simmler, on the “Carrizo Plains”, a little valley 
some twent\" miles west of McKittrick, and separated from the vSan Joaciuin A'alley 
by a range of hills rising to a height of about 40(10 feet. It is an intensely unin- 
teresting region ornithologically, for practically' the only vegetation is the covering 
of “fox-tail” and “broncho grass” that extends uninterruptedly for miles, and 
consequently the only common bird is the Horned Lark { Otocon'sr a . artia), which 
finds peculiarly congenial surroundings here. Nearly all the other species observed 
were in the immediate vicinity of ranch houses, where tracts of cultivated ground, 
together with the planted shade trees and the buildings, gave shelter to various 
birds. At the Pimental Ranch, where we were staying, an Arkansas Kingbird 
( lyrauuiis vcrf/cal/s) had built its nest on a gate post, where it was revolved ])art 
way around several times a day, as the gate was opened and shut. Another of this 
species placed her nest in the yard, on one of the telephone poles peculiar to this 
region. A post is driven into the ground and two narrow strips of board nailed, 
one on each side, the upper ends of which, fastened together, support the wire. 
The nest was placed on the post, between the two sheltering strips, just such a 
structure as the shrike’s nest described in the May Condor (page 111', from the 
neighboring San Joaquin Valley. This nest was only about three feet from the 
* Sec (Irinncll. I’roc. Biol. Soc. Wash., xxiv, Jane 16, 1911. pi). 163-164. 
