Jan., 1915 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
59 
The Emperor Goose is the least migratory of all the geese, seldom going more than 
a hundred miles south of its breeding range along the coast of western Alaska. The 
occurrence of this goose in California is always of sufficient interest to merit a record. — 
H. C. Bryant, Berkeley, California. 
Notes from San Bernardino, California. — On the 4th of October, 1914, and again on 
the 6th, I saw a band of about fifteen Pinyon Jays ( Gyanocephalus cyanocephalus) here 
in San Bernardino. Dr. Horace Gaylord informs me that these birds have been occa- 
sionally seen at Pasadena; but in over twenty-five years of observation I never have 
known of their occurring in the San Bernardino Valley, nor has Mr. R. B. Herron seen 
any. This year’s visit of the Pinyon Jay was therefore a great surprise to me. 
Another new record here, although of course it is due to the aid of man, was the 
finding by me on April 22, 1914, of a nest and twelve eggs of the Ring-necked Pheasant 
( Phasianus torquatus). The identification was positive. The birds were manifestly 
some that had been liberated in the vicinity, but they had become very wild and I am of 
the opinion that in time this game bird will become permanently established here. — 
Edward Wall, San Bernardino, California. 
Occurrence of White-crowned Sparrow near Claremont, California. — On April 24, 
1914, an adult male White-crowned Sparrow {Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys) was 
shot near Claremont, by Halsted White of this place. The specimen was brought to me 
and is now in my collection. I have spent considerable time collecting this winter and 
spring, both about Claremont and up to 6000 feet altitude in the mountains to the north 
of here, and this is the first one of these birds that I have seen. This bird was shot in 
the brush along the base of the foothills. — Wright M. Pierce, Claremont. California. 
Bird Notes from British Columbia and Southern California. — In the year 1884 I read 
in the Daily Colonist an account of a California Brown Pelican i Pelecanus calif or nicus) 
having been seen flying about Esquimalt Harbour, B. C., and the paper remarked that 
as soon as noticed some parties put off in a boat to try and shoot it, as was usual with 
a rare or uncommon bird. I never noticed any Pelicans there myself, although I was 
on water around the southern end of Vancouver Island for some years. 
A young male Hooded Merganser ( Lophodytes cucullatus) was shot near Westmin- 
ster, Orange County, California, about January 20, 1914. The bird was in young plum- 
age, with just two or three feathers on the side coming out as representing the adult 
male plumage. 
A Spotted Owl ( Strix occidentalis occidentalis) was shot by a hunter October 28, 
1913, up San Gabriel Canyon, Los Angeles County, California. It was skinned in the 
mountains and no record of the sex taken. I believe the species uncommon enough to 
be worth noting. I have never come across any myself, but owing to their retiring hab- 
its, there may be quite a few of these in the right locality. 
On May 29, 1914, I saw a fine male Scott Oriole ( Icterus parisorum) . It alighted on 
the electric wires on the street in San Diego close where I was and sang loudly for 
some time. It then flew off to some gum trees and I saw it no more, nor have I noticed 
it since. — H. Grey, San Diego, California. 
Random Notes from San Diego. — Butorides virescens anthonyi. One nest found 
near National City, May 30, 1907, contained five fresh eggs; it was situated in the top of 
a slender willow sapling ten feet above the ground. Two nests were found at Lakeside 
in 1913. On May 25, a nest was discovered placed in the top of a slender willow tree. It 
was partly concealed by a species of climbing vine although the five fresh eggs were 
plainly seen through the nest from beneath. The male was incubating. 
On June 8 another nest was located, situated in the top of a willow tree about 50 
feet high and was only reached by ascending a nearby tree and using an egg grabber. 
The bird returned several times during the course of proceedings. 
This nest contained four fresh eggs, and on the ground directly underneath was 
another egg — perfectly fresh and unbroken. It had probably been laid before the nest 
was completed and had fallen through; but I am unable to explain why it did not break 
in the great fall. 
A nest found May 30 of this year (1914) at Lakeside, contained four young about 
eight days old. These were revisited a week later and had grown considerably, having 
a partial coat of streaked feathers, and appeared to be on guard with a high shrill yell 
