THE CONDOR 
lOO 
I VOL. V 
the town must present many most desirable breeding localities for these birds, 
though but few were seen at any one time, 
A few thrashers were obtained both from Santa Barbara and Point Concep- 
tion, though hardly a sufficient number to be of definite value for comparison. A 
distinct difference in shade of coloration was noticeable however between the spec- 
imens from the two localities, so much so as to enable one to separate them at a 
glance. The Point Conception specimens are of a lighter shade on lower parts 
and whiter on throat, with line of demarkation on breast between lighter and 
darker feathers more pronounced than in those from Santa Barbara itself. This 
difference did not appear to be due to fading, moulting, or wind abrasion, and on 
further investigation with a good series may prove to be geographical variation. 
The seasonally late dates on which these specimens were secured were unfortunate 
as the wing and tail feathers are so badly worn at the end as to have no mensura- 
tive value. 
California jays were not numerous in the territory visited, and were rather 
shy, .so a much smaller series was taken than had been hoped for, especially as 
quite a curious fact is noticeable among specimens secured. This is that all those 
from Point Conception, and the only adult from the Santa Inez River have the 
lower mandible greatly worn off at the point, causing it to end as if filed squarely 
across, with a slight backward bevel, but with the file not held sufficiently tight to 
ensure a flat surface. In some cases the lower mandible is at least one-tenth of 
an inch shorter than what it apparently should be. The upper mandible in some 
of these specimens is worn and blunted to some extent, while in others, where not 
so worn is so much hooked over as to appear abnormal. The specimens from 
Santa Barbara township, however, have nothing unusual noticeable about the bill. 
In series from other localities individiral idiosyncrasies of various kinds will be 
found, but in this instance, of the nine adults secured, the four from Point Con- 
ception and the single one from Santa Inez River show the same peculiarity, 
though the typographic, climatic, and floral conditions differ considerably, while 
the four from Santa Barbara show nothing but a reasonable amount of wear. Un- 
less further observation prove the hypothesis incorrect it would seem as if this 
abnormal condition was the result of some difference either in the food itself or in 
the manner of securing it, as the birds may be in the habit of striking the lower 
mandible against hard ground or rock when capturing or gathering its food. 
Bird Notes from Eastern California and Western Arizona 
BV FRANK STEPHENS 
(^Concluded) 
Megascops asio cineraceus. Mexican Screech Owl. A male bird shot in the 
dusk of the evening of August 15th, twenty five miles below Bhrenberg, on the 
California side of the Colorado, was identified by Mr. Ridgway as M. a. cineraceus. 
This is probably the form found along the Colorado. I heard screech owls in sev- 
eral places along the river. At about 5000 feet altitude, in the Providence 
Mountains, I flushed a Megascops from a thick pinyon tree growing in a narrow' 
gulch but was unable to find it again; it was probably beiidirei. In the Hualapai 
