Jan., 1912 
41 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
Bobolink Again in Idaho. — Referring again to Dolichonyx oryzivoriis in Idaho (see 
Condor, 1911, for previons note) : On Angnst last, less than a quarter of a mile from where the 
bird was noted in 1909, I foimd a flock of about twenty-five, in the antnnin phimage of course, 
nevertheless unmistakably Bobolinks. One taken proved to be an adult male. This is my second 
record for the species in Idaho. Apparently it has now gained a firm foothold in this valley. 
All conditions seem to favor a rapid increase in numbers. — L. E. Wyman. 
Rare Takes for San Mateo County, California. — For the past few years I have been steadily 
adding to my list of county birds, and at this time think it of sufficient importance to record some 
of the rarer ones, and also one taken in another part of the State. 
Ancient Murrelet {Synihliboramphiis aniiquus) . One immature female in juvenal plum- 
age taken off San Bnmo in .San Francisco Bay on Decemljer 2.3, 1907. 
Pacific Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis glupischa) . Female taken in the bay near Redwood City, 
February 4, 1906; others seen at different times. 
Ashy Petrel {Oceanodroma homochroa) . Female taken November 9, 1909, on the bay near 
Redwood City. Another reported on November 16, 1911, near Redwood City. 
Ring-necked Duck {Aythya collaris). Numbers of these ducks are taken almost every 
fall on the bay, and several are in my collection; also a fine male in Ijreeding plimiage taken 
from a flock of a dozen on a small lake near (Menlo Park, F'ebruary 16, 1910. 
Barrow Golden-eye {Clangiila islandica) . After examining hundreds of specimens of gold- 
en-eyes for many years past, I at last succeeded in securing a young male, in immature plumage on 
November 19, 1908, and a female on November 28, 1910; all others were of the common, or Amer- 
ican Golden-eye, which are quite plentifril during the fall migration on the Redwood City salt 
marshes. 
Old-squaw (Harelda hyemalis) . Two specimens, female, on December 17, 1909, and male on 
January 2.5, 1910, on the bay near Redwood City. Others have been seen the past two winters. 
American Scoter (Oidemia americaiid) . A single female taken on the bay near Redwood 
City Creek on January 17, 1909; probably the only record for inland waters in California. 
Prairie Falcon {Falco niexicatms) . One taken on February 14, 1902, and another on October 
15, 1907. These are the only specimens I have ever noticed in the county. 
Brewer Sparrow {Spizella breiueri). Two specimens collected in city limits, one taken on 
December 7, 189.3, the other on Febniary 17, 1897. The sex of both is in doubt owing to shot 
holes. No others of this species have been seen. 
California Least Vireo {Vireo belli pusillus). Only one record for the county, a male taken 
on April 5, 1905, in city limits. 
Emperor Goose (Philacte canagica) . One specimen, a female, taken at Rio Vista, California, 
November .3, 1910. This is as far as I know the fourth record from the State. The Inrd was with 
a large flock of American White-fronted Geese and was in ver}- poor flesh. (Mr. Charles II. .Smith 
of the above city kindly presented the specimen to the writer, saying that he had never killed or 
even heard of such a bird being seen in that locality before, where thousands of geese are taken 
yearly. — Chase Littlejohn. 
Wood Ibis near Long Beach. — On July 2, 1911, I collected a specimen of Mycleria ameri- 
cana at Dominguez Station, near Long Beach, California. The bird was feeding in a mud slough 
in a very amusing manner. It was standing almost knee deep in the muddy water, and would 
insert its bill almost up to the eyes and then, standing on one foot, would seem to be stirring up 
the water with the other foot. The farmers in the vicinity of the place where this specimen was 
taken said that from one to half a dozen had visited this slough almost every day for a month. 
Other memhers of the Cooper Club report having seen Wood Ibises, about the time of the taking 
of my specimen, among various sloughs along the coast of Los Angeles County. — ^f. E. Law. 
Another Eastern Fox Sparrow in Southern California. — On November 11, 1911, while 
collecting in the Los Angeles River hottom near Burliank, Los Angeles County, I saw and shot a 
female Fox Sparrow {Passerella iliaca iliaca) which is indistinguishable from birds in my collec- 
tion that were taken in the eastern states. This is the seventh specimen of the species recorded 
from the State, and the second from the above locality. — Alfred B. Howell. 
The American Merganser at Lake Tahoe. — One of the prettiest sights in my experience 
came very unexpectedly while I was standing on a board walk in front of a little cabin at the edge 
