March, 1905 | 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
53 
in the more arid interior of British Columbia and Northwest Territory, where the species has 
been found on the headwaters of the Yukon in July. Parallels seem to be afforded in the cases of 
Ixoreus n. ncevius and I. n. meruloides , Melospizal. striata and M. /. lincolni, and Regulus c. 
grinnelli and R. c. calendula. The differences in wing and tail lengths are not due to wear, for 
the spring birds show the most wear and yet exhibit the greatest measurements. Nineteen males 
of the Townsend warbler from the Santa Cruz District average: wing 2.57 in. (65 mm.); tail 2.19 
in. (55.6 mm.); the 7th primary longest (7-8-9-6-5-4-3-2-1 ), counting the innermost as the first as 
recently recommended by RidgwayL Forty males from Pasadena average: wing 2.64 in. (67 min.), 
tail 2.23 in. (56.6 mm.); the 8th primary largest (S-7-9-6, etc.). rf 
Mr. Wells W. Cooke in his recent account of the “Distribution and Migration of North 
American Warblers”'’ has the following to say of Dendroica townsendi : “The Townsend warbler 
is one of the widest ranging of the western warblers, breeding from the mountains of southern 
California north to Sitka, Alaska, [etc] * * * A few sometimes winter as far north as southern 
California." [Italics mine.] I hope that Imaynotbe judged over-critical if I venture the assertion 
that both of these statements are decidedly misleading. One would infer that the species is well 
known as a regular breeder in the “mountains of southern California”; whereas we know of not 
one authentic instance of the species nesting anywhere within the State! Of course it is possible 
there remains unrecorded some instance known to Mr. Cooke; but this, if true, could reasonably 
be considered exceptional, judging from the comparative thoroughness with which the “moun- 
tains of southern California” have been explored ornitliologically within the past few years. 
Again, that a few individuals sometimes winter in southern California, is quite true, but it gives 
no hint of the fact that the Townsend warbler winters regularly in the Santa Cruz District of 
central California in such numbers as to be considered common! Recourse to readily-available 
literature would have disclosed a series of records beginning in 1879./— Joseph Grinnell. 
Rufous-crowned Sparrow near Stanford University. — During the week from August 
29 to September 4, 1904, I was camped in a ravine among the hills opposite Hidden Villa, which 
is on an old ranch near the base of Black Mountain, Santa Clara County, and about six miles 
from Stanford University. Here I heard the peculiar notes of the rufous-crowned sparrow ( Aimo - 
phila ruficeps ) almost daily, and saw several of the birds. On August 30 I procured a specimen, 
which is No. 5965 of my collection. The species was noted only on a southern hillside covered 
with a low growth of greasewood brush (Adenosto/na). In this same place the Bell sparrow and 
dusky poor-will were also common. — Joseph Grinneli.. 
Aerial Battle of Red-tailed Hawks, Buteo borealis calurus. — On December 8th, 1904, 
Rev. Thomas J. Wood of this place whilst feeding his chickens heard a loud, shrill sound over- 
head. On looking up he saw two large hawks fighting fiercely. Continuing to watch them he 
saw they were in some way fastened together and, going about in circles, were gradually near- 
ing the ground. In a few minutes they dropped within a few feet of where he stood. As thev 
struck the ground they become separated, but being somewhat exhausted from their struggle did 
not take immediate flight or attempt to until Mr. Wood started towards them when one started 
but was easily overtaken and fearlessly grasped by the neck by Mr. Wood who turning quickly, 
caught the other in a like manner. He brought and kindly presented them to me. They were 
the western red-tail ( Buteo bof'ea/is calurus ) in the intermediate plumage and both males. Their 
skins are now in my collection. — Henry W. Marsden, Witch Creek , Cal. 
Colaptes auratus luteus in Los Angeles County, Cal. — A female specimen of Co/aptcs 
auratus luteus has lately come into my possession. It was taken near Alhambra, Nov. 4, 1904, 
by A. Williamson of this city, and so far as I have been able to obtain information is the second 
record for Los Angeles County. Our other record is of an adult male specimen taken in the same 
locality, Feb. 7, 1890, by E. C. Tliurber. — C. H. Richardson, Jr., Pasadena , Cal. 
Double Nest of Arkansas Kingbird. — During the past summer I made the acquaint- 
ance of what was to me an unknown trait in any flycatcher, that of building a double nest. A 
pair of Arkansas kingbirds ( Tyrannus verticalis ) built their nest near the top of a dilapidated 
windmill tower on an abandoned ranch near Turlock. On May 5, there were three eggs in the 
nest. I did not handle the eggs, nor even touch the nest, but left them as I wanted to study the 
feeding of the young. About two weeks later I climbed to the nest and found that the birds had 
built another nest on top of the first and had already laid three eggs. Two of these were after- 
wards hatched, the third being infertile. — J. S. Hunter, Berkeley , Cal . 
{Continued on page 55. ) 
c Bds. N. and Mid. Am. I, 1901, p. XVI. 
d Anti-splitters please take note that I have here pointed out a subspecies without "burdening it with a name!’’ 
e U. S. Dept. Agr., Bull. No 18, Div. Biol. Survey, 1904. p. 90. 
f Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club IV, April 1879, p. 1 17. 
