134 
THE CONDOR 
VOL. V 
distinguished forms occur in southern California west of the Sierras. One is a small 
dark-colored bird which is the breeding race and remains throughout the year. This 
answers to the character of the tule wren {Cistothorus palustris paludicola Baird). The 
other is a large, pale bird which occurs only in winter. This accords well with the descrip- 
tion of the western marsh wren {Cistothorus palustris plesius Oberholser). We have specimens 
of the latter as follows: Coll. F. S. D., No. 412, Feb. 21, 1896, taken at Long Beach; 
Nos. 409 and 410, Dec. 26, 1895, and No. 414, Jan. 22, 1896, all three taken at Bixby, Los Angeles 
County. Coll. J. G., No. 596, Dec. 27, 1895, also taken at Bixby; Nos. 1695 and 1696, Nov. 7, 
1896, taken at El Monte, Los Angeles County. These specimens are unmistakable and indicate 
that at least in the winter of 1895-96 there was a general movement of the Great Basin form west- 
ward into the San Diegan district. It seems quite improbable that this was an exceptional state 
of affairs; for nearly all our marsh wrens, paludicola as well as plesius, were taken during only 
those two years. And then, too, one recalls the well-known paralled winter 
movements of the Say phoebe, mountain blue-bird, sage sparrow, and, as recently dis- 
covered, the sage thrasher (see Swarth, Condor II, July 1900, p. 89). The western 
marsh wren has previously been recorded along the eastern boundary of the state, well within the 
Great Basin, whence Oberholser {Auk XIV, April 1897, p. 193) reported specimens from Fort 
Crook, Death Valley and Eagle Lake, the latter a breeding station. The same writer also men- 
tions Marysville in his locality list, and as this is not starred, it may be taken as another instance 
of winter emigration westward. Observers west of the Sierras should be on the lookout for this 
race, as interesting facts in regard to its migration and winter distribution may be forthcoming. 
As an aid in the determination of specimens, I append the following diagnosis: Cistolhorus 
palustris plesius < 5 , No. 1696, Coll. J. G.; El Monte, Cal.; Nov. 7, 1896.) — Wing 55.5 min. (2.18 
inches); tail 55.5 (2.18); culmen 13 (.50); bill from nostril 9.8 (.39); tarsus 20.5 (.80). Ground 
color of upper parts cinnamon; chest, sides and flanks washed with cinnamon; black markings on 
wings and tail distinct; black pileum divided by broad cinnamon interval. Cislothorus palustris 
paludicola ( 5 . No. 4960, Coll. J. G.; Palo Alto, Cal.; Nov. 23, 1901.) — Wing 48 min. (1.90 inches); 
tail 46 (i. 81); culmen 12 (.46); bill from nostril 9 (.36); tarsus 18 (.72;. Ground color of upper 
parts Vandyke brown; chest sides and flanks strongly Isabella color; black markings on wings 
and tail fused together; black pileum only washed with brown toward the forehead. 
The specimens above descriTled represent rather extreme manifestations of the two speci- 
mens. A number of individuals fall variously between. It may be remarked that some San 
Diegan district birds are paler than others from the San Francisco Bay region, and both sets are 
somewhat smaller than the stated measurements of Washington skins. Doubtless these differ- 
ences are significant of geographical variation locally along the Pacific coast. But our material 
is as yet too scanty to afford conclusive demonstration. — Joskph Grinneli.. 
More About the Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata). — The interesting article 
in the January Condor by C. S. Sharp on the Band-tailed Pigeon set me to looking up my 
records and I find a few notes bearing on the subject. 
Each winter a few of the pigeons are seen in the canyons on either side of the San Gorgonio 
Pass between San Gorgonio and San Jacinto peaks, and a few pairs remain to nest higher in the 
mountains. I have seen on both mountains at an altitude of six to eight thousand feet old nests 
which I took to be those of the pigeon. May 14, 1897, I found on San Jacinto mountain, at 
about 6500 feet elevation, two nests containing 3^oung birds, one in each nest. The first was just 
hatched and the other half grown. Both nests were in oak trees fifteen to twenty feet from the 
ground and were discovered only as the old bird fluttered frotii the nest. The location of each 
nest was on a horizontal branch in thick part of the tree and rather difficult to find. Thej' were 
mere platforms of twigs similar to nests of the mourning dove and it is a marvel how the eggs can 
be kept warm enough to hatch, resting on such an airy structure and at that altitude in springtime. 
During the spring of 1901 I saw several pairs on Rabbit Mountain, 7100 feet elevation, east of 
Hot Springs, Warner Ranch, San Diego County. Several pairs and a flock of seven remained 
on the mountain till at least June and though I found three old nests, all in oak trees, no new 
ones were seen. 
In Lost Valley about 5000 feet elevation, between Rabbit Mountain and Coyote Creek I 
saw several pairs and a flock of a dozen or more. They were still there June I2, when I left, but 
no nests were discovered. 
In March, 1901, great flocks of the pigeons poured into San Gorgonio Pass and fed in the 
barley fields. For about two weeks there were hundreds of them but they all left as 
suddenly as they had appeared. Their method of feeding was peculiar. Instead of spreading 
out they kept together, alternately walking and flying. Those behind would fly a few feet ahead 
of the advance line, alight, and walk along picking up grain until other rear ones would fly 
ahead and it came their turn again. 
