1 30 
THE CONDOR 
| Vo 1,. VIII 
specimens are somewhat darker than the southern California birds but most are 
considerably lighter than birds from Palo Alto, the type locality of intermedia. 
Psaltriparus m. minimus. California Bush-tit. Common at all wooded or 
brushy points on the route. 
Hylocichla u. ustulata. Russet-backed Thrush. Often heard on the Little 
Sur where one was caught in a mouse trap. 
Sialia mexicana occidentalis. Western Bluebird. Noted between Monterey 
and the Little Sur. Common in the pines of upper Big Creek where four imma- 
tures were taken. 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
Contopus virens in Colorado. — .Since the publication of my article on Colorado birds in 
the last January Condor, the specimen mentioned as labeled doubtfully Contopus virens by Mr. 
Ridgway has been positively identified by him as of that species. It thus affords the first record 
for Colorado. The specimen was taken near Springfield, Baca County, Colorado, May 12, 1905. — 
Edward R. Warren, Colorado Springs, Colorado. 
Scott Orioles, at San Diego. — In front of our sitting-room window and six feet distant are 
severel aloes of a small species, bearing panicles of tubular orange flowers on stems about three 
feet high. In the latter part of April a male Scott oriole ( Icterus parisorum) alighted many 
times on these stems, most frequently mornings. He would thrust his bill deeply into the 
blossoms and appeared to suck the nectar. He was very deliberate, sampling nearly all the 
the nectar. When the blossoms began to wither the Oriole would pick off each blossom and press 
blossoms at each visit. I got the impression that he did not gather any insects, simply drinking 
the base of the tube as if extracting the residue. I saw the female at the aloe blossoms but 
once. The pair were frequent visitors to a group of “wild tobacco” trees at the back of the 
house. — Kate Stephens, San Diego, California. 
Some Items in the Diet of California Shrikes.— For the last two or three years a 
pair of California shrikes {Lanins l. gambeli) have inhabited the eucalyptus trees growing in 
our yard. I11 the yard are also two large century plants. The thorns on these century plants are 
favorite shambles of the shrikes. Some of the food items observed sticking on the thorns are: 
Lizards of several species including ‘‘horned toads” ( Phrynoniosa ), scorpions, centipedes, Jerusa- 
lem crickets, beetles, young quail, adult and young horned larks, a meadow mouse, and young 
pocket rats. The heads of the mice and rats were eaten first; but the heads of the horned toads 
were usually allowed to remain on the thorns. The shrikes do not appear to care for the lizards 
as they are usually allowed to remain and dry on the thorns. I have broods of young chickens 
running about the place, including one brood without a mother. None of these have been 
molested by the shrikes. — Kate Stephens, San Diego, California. 
The Note of the Golden-crowned Sparrow. — With the first autumn rains the golden- 
crown {Zonotrichia corona/a) is with us; and again is heard his high, sweet song, consisting of 
three prolonged notes. These have been translated by the words, ‘‘Oh, dear me,” and are 
familiar and dear to every Californian. This song 
is one of the simplest and most clear-cut of all our 
bird notes; yet even here there is a chance for indi- 
vidual variation and originality. 
I have heard at least two different renderings. 
One, by far the most common, consists of a minor 
^ , cadence given in different keys at different 
d 1 rr\ 1 n- times. 
Another, heard occasionally in an olive orchard near .Santa Barbara, was antiphonal to this: 
It obviously added very much to the interest of /T\ 
the performance. This orchard was a favorite 
sleeping place of sparrows, and at sunset was full 
of their clear notes. Will not someone observe 
the “rain bird” during the coming season, and 
note other variations from this typical song? — 
Anna Head, Berkeley, California. 
