July, 1909 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
139 
Vaux Swift ( Chaetura vauxii):. Two pairs of this swift have used a chimney in an old farm 
house near here for their nesting site for several years. It is to be hoped they will be undis- 
turbed and thus become civilized like their eastern cousin, the Chimney Swift. 
The unusual cold of this past winter was hard on our resident birds. During January I found 
dead birds in the snow of the following species: Mallard, Varied Thrush, Oregon Towliee, 
Rusty Song Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Northwestern Flicker and Mountain Quail. The 
China Pheasants stood the cold remarkably well altho they became much emaciated, and I know 
of several being caught alive and cared for until the snow disappeared. Resident birds are much 
scarcer this spring than the}' have been for the past five years. — Stanley G. Jewett, Portland , 
Oregon. 
Two Waders of Note from Santa Catalina Island. — Records of the following two 
species from California are yet not so numerous but that additional ones are of interest. The 
Grinnell collection contains a male in juvenal plumage of the Baird Sandpiper (Pisobia 
bairdii ) taken at White’s Landing, Santa Catalina Island, California, September 1, 1907. The 
same collection contains a juvenal male of the Ruddy Turnstone (Aren aria interpres morinella ) 
taken at Howland’s Landing, Santa Catalina Island, California, September 3, 1907. Both birds 
were secured by Mr. Howard W. Wright. — J. Grinnell, Berkeley, California. 
A Correction.— In The Condor, Marcli-April, 1909, p. 60, paragraph 2, read Baird Fly- 
catcher ( Empidonax difficilis bairdi) in place of Western Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis ) ; 
careful examination of specimens secured show their affinity to the first-named subspecies. 
— Austin Paul Smith, Brow?isville, Texas. 
Further Notes on the American Crossbill in California. — In the last issue of this magazine, 
page 102, I neglected to state that the second example of Loxia curvirostra minor referred to had 
also been obtained at Nicasio. The exact date is not known, but it was many years ago and 
doubtless in winter. 
Under the name minor, Mr. F. S. Daggett has recorded six Crossbills as taken December 26, 
1898, in Pasadena (Bull. Cooper Orn. Club 1, May 1899, p. 51). At my request Mr. Daggett has 
sent me the measurements of these specimens, now in his collection at Oak Park, Illinois.. 
With very little doubt, the form they represent is also L. c. minor just as originally recorded. 
Perhaps others of our winter records for the state pertain to the small race. Collectors having 
specimens should re-examine them. — J. Grinnell, Berkeley, California. 
A Correction. — My attention has been called to the fact that in my recent catalogue of 
Boulder County birds I omitted to credit the Red-eyed Vireo record to Mr. Horace G. Smith, who 
recorded it in the Auk in 1908. I certainly had no intention of claiming anv credit for the 
record and do not knowhow the omission occurred. — Junius Henderson, Boulder, Colorado. 
Queries. — The publisht literature relating to California ornithology, altho relatively volumi- 
nous, still fails to inform us definitely of many apparently easily-obtainable facts we are continu- 
ally wanting to know. The following are some instances in point; and it is highly probable that 
every one of these queries can be answered by various observers from personal experience. As 
the replies will be of general interest and value I suggest that each be written up as an article, 
either brief or extended, for the “Field and Study” department of The Condor. 
(1) What is the status of the “Olive-backed Thrush” in California? It should occur as a 
migrant. Has anyone specimens? (2) Is there a definite instance of the nesting of the Lead- 
colored Bush-tit in California? It should be found along the east side of the Sierras. (3) Does 
the Wren-tit occur at any point east of the Sierran divide? (4) Does the Audubon Warbler 
breed anywhere in the “Humid Coast Belt”? (5) Does the Brewer Sparrow nest anywhere 
west of the Sierra Nevada? (6) Has the Western Martin begun to nest about buildings exten- 
sively, as with the Eastern Martin? (7) There are very few nesting records of the Bank Swallow 
in California. What is its breeding range in the state? (8) Has anyone found any subspecies 
of the Fox .Sparrow in summer in the Humid Coast Belt of California? (9) What is the status 
of the Junco reported from the coast region north of San Francisco Bay? (10) Does the Bi- 
colored Blackbird intergrade with the San Diego Red-wing? (11) What is the subspecific iden- 
tity of the Cowbird reported as breeding in the southern San Joaquin Valley? — J. Grinnell, 
Berkeley, California. 
