Nov., 1916 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
231 
Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi. Harris Hawk. July 25, 1916, I saw four full-grown 
young, not able to fly. They were in a cottonwood in a small marsh about two miles 
south of Palo Verde. 
Pyrocephalus rubinus mexicanus. Vermilion Flycatcher. On April 7, 1916, I found 
a nest north of the store in a screw-bean over-hanging the water. There were two 
eggs in it about ready to hatch. The young grew up and left the nest. I also found a 
nest back of the schoolhouse on April 16 with fairly fresh eggs. The birds were ready to 
fly on May 12. On passing the nest north of the store on June 1 I looked in and was 
surprised to see three more young birds in the nest, and on looking into the nest back of 
the schoolhouse found it to contain three eggs. In both cases the nest was twice used in 
the same season. — 'Leo Wiley, Palo Verde, California. 
Another Record of the Wood Ibis in California. — On Sunday morning, August 13, 
1916, while returning north on the Santa Fe from San Diego, I was surprised and de- 
lighted to see a flock of about twenty Wood Ibises (Mycteria americana) . I was sitting on 
the rear platform of the observation car and saw the flock just after our train had crossed 
the broad delta of a small stream near Oceanside. The birds were flying from the ocean, 
inland up the rather broad valley of the practically dry stream. Although I had not seen 
a live Wood Ibis since August, 1888, when I saw seven on the lower Wabash, I at once 
recognized these birds. Their heavy wing-flaps, their white bodies and black wings could 
not be mistaken. Messrs. Grinnell and Daggett saw a flock in the same place August 
5, 1902 (see Condor, v, 1903, p. 18). — Barton Warren Evermann, San Francisco, Califor- 
nia. 
The Alaska Water-thrush in Marin County, California. — August 13, 1916, I took a 
trip to Muir Woods in company with several friends. While hiking along what is known 
as the Bootjack Trail, I suddenly came upon an Alaska Water-thrush ( Seiurus novebo- 
racensis notabilis) perched on a large boulder near a stream. At this point there was a 
great deal of underbrush and ferns along the banks, and several small cataracts in the 
stream. Upon catching sight of me the bird uttered small chirps, and continually tee- 
tered and dipped from side to side. I was able to approach within a few feet of it, and 
noted that the general color was brownish, with black streakings on the breast, and a 
whitish line through the eye. After a few minutes another one appeared, and the two 
flew into the underbrush. The white stripe through the eye, and the teetering motion 
like that of the American Dipper, to my mind makes the identification of this bird unmis- 
takable. As there seem to be only four other records of the occurrence of this species 
within the State, I thought that my finding it in Marin County might be of some interest. 
— Harold E. Hansen, San Francisco, California. 
The Dwarf Screech Owl in the State of Washington. — Unless it be for an occasional 
“sight record’’, I believe the Dwarf Screech Owl ( Otus flammeolus idahoensis) has sel- 
dom been recorded in Washington. It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to report the 
capture of an adult female at Kiona, Benton County, Washington, by Mr. F. R. Decker 
of that place. An examination showed it to be beyond much doubt a breeding bird. The 
only possible nesting sites in the vicinity were numerous holes made by Bank Swallows, 
etc., in a large sandy cliff, so it is possible that this bird may use something besides holes 
in trees as a place for raising its young. The specimen was taken on May 29, 1916, and 
is now in the collection of Mr. D. E. Brown, at Seattle, Washington. — J. H. Bowles, 
Tacoma, Washington. 
Cleaning Skulls and Skeletons: a Supplementary Note. — Since the publication of the 
description of the process of cleaning skulls and disarticulated skeletons two years ago 
(Condor, xvi, 1914, pp. 239-241), different re-agents have been tested to replace in whole 
or in part the solutions described. These experiments have resulted in one change, only. 
In place of the Carbolic Acid, substitute Cresylic Acid (Cresol, C 6 H 4 CH 3 OH): one part 
Cresol in place of twenty-five to fifty parts of Carbolic Acid. One-half ounce of Cresylic 
Acid has been found to be sufficient for a solution containing two quarts of ammonia 
and six gallons of water. No harmful effects have been caused by the use of a very con- 
centrated solution of Cresol. Cresol costs about thirty-five cents a pound, thus making 
its use more economical than that of Carbolic Acid. — F. Harvey Holden, Museum of Ver- 
tebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. 
