198 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVIII 
Icterus cucullatus nelsoni Ridgway. Arizona Hooded Oriole. Miss Winifred Wear 
was the first to record this species from the Fresno District (see Condor, xvii, p. 234). 
On June 27, 1915, I personally saw a pair of Arizona Hooded Orioles in some fig trees 
along the White’s Bridge road, about seven miles west of Fresno. I watched them for 
ten minutes or more, being within fifteen feet of them. .This is the only known in- 
stance of a female being seen here. At least one, and probably several, males of this 
species were present during the summer of 1911. On June 4 of that year a male was 
seen on a vine in the yard of a residence in town and the song was frequently heard, 
usually in tall eucalyptus trees in various parts of the city. It was last heard about 
July 1. I feel quite positive that no nelsoni were present during the three intervening- 
summers. 
Carpodacus purpureus californicus Baird. California Purple Finch. In the Auk, 
vol. xxm, page 415, Mr. Milton S. Ray recorded this bird from Firebaugh. In response 
to my inquiry Mr. Ray wrote me that but a single bird was noted, a male that was sing- 
ing from the top of one of the clumps of trees along the river near town. 
Melospiza melodia fisherella Oberholser. Modoc Song Sparrow. I collected a spe- 
cimen of this form near Oxalis, in the northwestern corner of the county, on January 25, 
1916. The bird was discovered in a patch of tules in a small slough, and specimens of 
M. m. heermanni were taken at the same time and place. 
Oreospiza chlorura (Audubon). Green-tailed Towhee. Mr. H. C. Ohl has a speci- 
men of this species which he found dead among some straw and refuse from a barn at 
Mendota, September 10, 1912. The sex was not determined, as decomposition was be- 
ginning at the time the bird was discovered. 
Vireosylva gilva swainsoni (Baird). Western Warbling Vireo. May 23, 1915, while 
exploring some of the small ponds north of Riverdale, Mr. J. E. Law saw a single vireo 
of this species. The bird sang repeatedly at close range. I was investigating another 
small willow-bordered pond a short distance away and also saw one of these birds. 
Oreoscoptes montanus (Townsend). Sage Thrasher. February 27, 1912, Mr. H. C. 
Ohl noticed an unfamiliar bird perched on a fence near Mendota. It proved to he a 
female Sage Thrasher and the only one I have ever heard of in the Fresno district. 
Catherpes mexicanus punctulatus Ridgway. Dotted Canyon Wren. During the fall 
months an occasional example of this wren appears in the valley. At such times they 
usually frequent open sheds and other farm buildings. September 15, 1914, one was 
seen near Fresno. It was apparently devoid of fear and seemed much at home in a 
large, open packing shed where it crawled over the cornices and along the rafters in a 
most satisfied manner, frequently giving its harsh but subdued scolding note. On one 
occasion a series of Wren-tit-like notes was heard. The bird was still present on 
November 6, following. 
Fresno, California, February 22, 1916. 
SOME BIRD NOTES FROM HUMBOLDT BAY 
By JOSEPH MAILLIARD 
I T WAS the writer’s good fortune recently to pass a few days — May 28 to 
June 4 (1916), inclusive — in the city of Eureka, Humboldt County, Cali- 
fornia, and to be warmly received and most unselfishly assisted by Mr. C. 
I. Clay, a Cooper Club member from whom most of us have heard from time 
to time. In his company the hours not occupied in putting up specimens were 
spent in scouring the country for certain forms it was especially desirous of 
finding upon their native heath, sequoia, salieornia, or whatever they elect 
to inhabit. Without treading upon the preserves of the local ornithologists, 
who probably have a surprise or two up their sleeves, there are a few matters 
that might be touched upon which may be of value to some of the work being 
carried on in the state, or at the very least, of interest to some of the ornith- 
ologists following out special lines. 
