100 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XI 
gestive of some human gratitude. The old birds were shy and we had quite a little 
difficulty in getting photos of them. We arranged it, however, by setting the 
camera on a nest with a rock to keep it down and pulling the shutter with a long 
thread. The picture in this article, in which there are several old pelicans, was 
taken in this way. We spent several days with this interesting colony of cormor- 
ants and pelicans, collecting and taking notes and photos, all of which was done 
with difficulty, as the hillside on which the colony was situated was very steep and 
slippery from the ice-plant. 
Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. Several seen but none taken. 
Heteractitis incanus. Wandering Tattler. Several seen on South and Middle 
Islands. 
Arenaria melanocephala. Black Turnstone. Several seen on South Island; 
none taken. 
Haematopus bachmani. Black Oyster-catcher. Four seen on Middle Island; 
only one taken. 
Lophortyx californicus vallicola. Valley Quail. I went out on the first day 
and took two before I discovered that there were only about forty on South Island. 
These specimens are very faded and worn. These birds ought not be disturbed at all. 
Falco peregrinus anatum. Duck Hawk. There were three pairs on South and 
Middle Island, but none taken. 
Aeronantes melanoleucus. White-throated Swift. Quite a number on South 
Island. 
Selasphorus alleni. Allen Hummingbird. A hummer which I took to be of 
this species, I found on South Island quite common. 
Corvus corax sinuatus, American Raven. Several seen on South Island. 
Melospiza coronatorum. Coronado Song Sparrow. For some reason these birds 
are very rare and exceedingly shy. I took none, as they kept out of range. We 
saw a few and heard some singing. 
Carpodacus mexicanus dementis. San Clemente House Finch. Very common 
on all three islands. Their plumage is very light, the head of the males being pale 
yellow instead of red. 
Helminthophila celata sordida. Dusky Warbler. Several old and young seen 
on South Island. I found one on the ground which was too young to fly; the 
parent birds were flying around evidently taking care of it. 
Salpinctes obsoletus. Rock Wren. Very abundant on South Island, on the 
hill sides. One old nest found with an addled egg. It was near camp in a natural 
cavity in the cliff. The wren, for some reason, was going in and out of the cavity 
when we discovered the nest. 
Pasadena , California. 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
Nest of the Western Meadowlark. — The nest of the Western Meadowlark ( Sturnella 
neglecta ) shown on the next page was discovered, one morning in May as I was riding the range 
on the Rancho San Geronimo, by my horse nearly stepping on it, frightening the poor owner 
so that she “looked not upon the order of her going” but fluttered away in great haste. It 
happened that her temporary domicile was so placed that a slight parting of the grass in front of 
it would allow the rays of the early morning sun to shine directly upon the eggs. This seemed 
