78 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XII 
ter) , only two were seen. Inca Doves, Mexican Ground Doves, White-winged 
Doves and Mourning Doves w r ere all abundant except the first mentioned, and for 
the most part frequenting the open roads and fields. The only pigeon seen was the 
Red-billed ( Columba flavirostris) . On April 29 I found one incubating a single 
egg on a frail platform of twigs in a clump of bushes. Mocking Birds (. Mimus 
polyglottos leucopterus) were not uncommon but a peculiar thing was that they 
did not do any singing, tho I watcht them for some time on different occasions. 
Bronzed Cowbirds {Tangavius aeneus aeneus), Groove-billed Anis ( Crotophaga 
sulcirostris ) and Brewer Blackbirds ( Euphagus cya n o cep h a hi s ) occupied every 
field where there was any stock. Colima Ground Sparrows Aimophila acuminata ) 
and Mexican Goldfinches {Astragali nus psaltria mexicanus ) w T ere mainly evident 
as roadside birds. A very rare and shy bird, two seen, was the Rufous Cuckoo 
{Piaya mexicana) , a slightly larger bird than ours and very much longer tailed. 
Wrens were noticeably absent, the only ones noted being the Happy Wren 
{Pheugopedius felix) and an unidentified species. Our familiar friend the West- 
ern Gnat-catcher ( Polioptiia caemla obscura was present tho not at all common. 
Scarlet-headed Orioles {Icterus pustulatus ) were numerous, and a few individuals of 
Painted Redstarts ( Setophaga picta ), Hepatic Tanagers (Piranga hepatica) and 
Arizona Hooded Orioles {Icterus cucullatus nelsoni ) were observed. The natives 
had many Tres Marias Cardinals {Cardinalis cardinalis marine) in cages, which 
they got from the Tres Marias Islands some fifty miles off the coast. We were dis- 
appointed in not finding hummingbirds present in numbers and species. Only the 
Rufous {Selasphorus rufus ) and another of undetermined species were seen. Mr. 
Osburn secured one Xantus Becard {Platypsaris albiveniris) , the only one seen. 
White-rumpt Swallows ( Tachycineta albilinea ) were nesting in fence posts May 
10. The flycatchers were very abundant and well represented by the Derby Fly- 
catcher {Pitangus derbianus) the largest and noisiest and particularly haunting the 
streams, Cassin Kingbird- ( Tyramms vociferans ) t Giraud Flycatcher Myozetetes 
si mills superciliosus) , Ash-throated Flycatcher ( Myiarchus ciuerascens ) Vermilion 
Flycatcher {Pyrocephatus rubineus mexicanus) and Least Flycatcher {Empidonax 
minimus) the latter being rare. 
In passing Natividad Island, what I took to be Sooty and Black-vented Shear- 
waters, Brandt and Farallone Cormorants w'ere numerous. One Farallone Cor- 
morant v ? as observed at San Bias. Other' birds seen, not mentioned above, were 
Douglas Quail {Lophortyx douglasi ), Purple Gallinule (lonornis marlinica), Cuerna- 
vaca House Finch {Carpodacus mexicanus rhodocotpus) , Lincoln Sparrow ( Melospiza 
ti?icolni) and Pigmy Owl, {Glaucidium pkalaenoides) . Many other birds were seen 
that were not identified, the most prominent among which was a large black tree 
duck, another species of Mexican duck, a large white-headed hawk with a rufous 
colored body, and a large owl. 
The Tierra Caliente or Hot Lands offer much in the w 7 ay of collecting, but 
also considerable hardship in so doing. If collecting eggs, the trees selected by the 
birds for a nesting site, if not the slippery and tall cocoanut trees or the thorn 
trees, are very large around the base w r ith the first limbs starting at some distance 
from the ground; besides the enervating climate makes about one such tree climbed, 
a day’s work. The sw^amps are w T ell nigh impenetrable, tho one does not have to 
watch out for venomous snakes. The only snakes I saw 7 v r ere sea-snakes wdiicli 
remain well out to sea. Woodticks are especially numerous and a sort of a jigger, 
called by the natives Wenas, are very rapacious. If allowed to get under the skin 
they frequently make very painful and troublesome sores, and if out in the brush 
much it is impossible to keep them from boring into the skin. A very small gnat 
