July, 1909 
THE LITTLE BROWN CRANE IN CALIFORNIA 
129 
Crane a year ago. I think it was about ten or twelve years ago that I killed the 
bird out of a flock of possibly 25 or 30 at Newport not far from Santa Ana [Orange 
County]. I saw another big flock at the time, probably 100 birds. I can not give 
you any measurements; but you and I both know it was much smaller than the 
ordinary Sandhill in all measurements.” 
I recently mentioned the subject to Harry S. Swarth. who tells me that he 
used to see small cranes in the Los Angeles markets. They were said to have been 
shot on the Centinela ranch, southwest of Los Angeles some twelve miles. Mr. 
Swarth bought two of these market birds and made them into skins. These were 
subsequently disposed of to Mr. Outram Bangs. 
I wrote to Mr. Bangs early this year, as to the whereabouts of the Swarth 
specimens. Under date of February 9, 1909, I received the following reply: 
“The two cranes you speak of are in my collection, and are as follows: No. 11,- 
441, Bangs Coll.; bought in Los Angeles market, fresh, March 21, 1904; ? im.; 
wing, 470 mm.; tarsus, 178; culmen, 94. No. 11,440, Bangs Coll.; bought in Los 
Angeles market, fresh, March 21, 1904; $ ad.; wing, 505; tarsus, 201; culmen, 
91. The bills are just about the same length in both, but the roughnesses of the 
forehead in the older bird come down a little more onto the base of the culmen, 
making this measurement a little shorter.” As the above measurements conclu- 
sively prove, the birds in question were Grits canadensis. 
Altho the present seems to be the first definite record of the species for the 
State, there is little doubt but that many of the sight records of the “Sandhill 
Crane” really apply to the Little Brown Crane. In 1902 (Pac. Coast Avifauna 
no. 3, p. 76) I stated that, “altho it is almost certain that this species (Grits cana- 
densis ) is a common spring and fall migrant thru the State, specimens seem to be 
as yet lacking.” Now that specimens have been identified it seems all the more 
probable that this Crane is of regular occurrence during the migrations, and per- 
haps also during the winter, in the southern part of the State. 
The Sandhill Crane (Grits mexicana) is undoubtedly the species — as correctly 
recorded in many places — which summers in various parts of California. The 
Little Brown Crane summers far to the northward of us. 
Berkeley , California . 
NESTING OF THE ARIZONA JUNCO 
By FRANK C. WILLARD 
WITH ONE PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR 
O F the several Juncos which visit the Huachuea Mountains, Arizona, during 
migration, but one, Junco phceonotns palliatus, remains to breed. From 
the summit of the mountains down to an altitude of 6000 feet on both 
slopes, the Arizona Junco may be found nesting. As early as May 8, I have seen 
fully fledged young following their parents and being fed by them. From the 
middle of May till the last of July fresh eggs of the second brood may be found. 
The nest is placed on the ground, and under a stone so often that the natives 
speak of it as “that little bird which builds under a stone”. I have also found its 
nest under a loose piece of pine bark lying on the ground, under an exposed root 
overhung by dry grass, under a bunch of weeds, a pile of brush, a clump of ferns, 
etc. The photo shown herewith is of a nest taken May 25, 1907. It was located 
