Mar., 1913 
FROM FIERD AND STUDY 
93 
stink-bugs (Podisus sp.), and 2 stink-bugs. All of these insects are considered injurious. 
The specimen from which this stomach was taken is no. 23181, University of California 
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. 
SfunicUa neglecta. Western Meadowlark. Los Banos, Merced County, California, 
April 21, 1911. Stomach contained over 40 plant lice (Aphis brassicae) along with parts of 
8 ground beetles (Ptcrostichus sp., Blapstiniis sp., Conionfis subpubescens) , 1 snout beetle 
(order Rhynchophora) and parts of 12 crickets (Grylliis penusylvanicus) . 
Plaiicsficiis migratorius propinqnus. Western Robin. Orchard, Big Pine, Inyo County, 
California, Januarj" 23, 1911. Stomach contained 192 small cutworms. — H. C. Bryant. 
The Stephens Fox Sparrow in Marin County, California, once more. — The recent 
cold spell and unusual snowfall in California during the first half of January, 1913, brought 
to mind the association of such an occurrence with the presence of Stephens Fox Sparrows 
on the higher ranges at San Geronimo, Marin County, California ( See Condor, xiv, March, 
1912, p. 63). 
On the first opportunity that offered, which happened to be January 21st, a trip was made 
to the spot where these birds had been seen on other occasions and under similar circum- 
stances. Frost and ice were in evidence that morning on all sides, but these disappeared 
as the bright sun warmed up the atmosphere. The top of the range was reached by eleven 
o’clock, and a careful search for the expected visitors was made. At first none was to be 
seen, but finally one was observed to pop up out of a ceanothus bush and at sight of a 
human being to dart back into his dense refuge, while all efforts to bring him to view again 
were fruitless. 
The same thing happened with another, after which two hours of watching, alternated 
with tramping through the brush, were passed before another was seen. This one was almost 
stepped upon in a little thinner brush, and in his fright stayed on top of .a bush long enough 
to be fatal. It was very close shooting, but a good many feathers and the bill remained — 
enough to identify the bird positively as Passcrella stephensi, as was expected. It proved 
to be a female, as were all the others in our collection from this locality. No more were 
found on this date, nor was a single one identified on a second trip made to the spot four 
days later, though a few slight sounds were heard that seemed to indicate the presence of 
one or two. 
As a rule some of the numerous subspecies of Passcrella that winter along our Cali- 
fornia coast are very numerous at San (Jeronimo at this season ; but this year they .seem 
extremely scarce, and only one was seen in the two days tramping above spoken of. — Joseph 
Maii.i.i.vrd. 
Artificial Hatching of a Cassin Auklet. — While studying birds on Off-shore Rock, 
Humboldt County, California, in company with F. J. Smith, I took from a burrow a stone- 
cold Cassin Anklet’s egg, advanced in incuba*‘ion, and placed it in a fish basket together 
with other eggs. 
This was about noon on July 21, 1912. The basket was carried about for several hours, 
then placed in a boat for an hour, removed to a train for a thirty mile run and at 7 p. m. 
carried home, where it was placed on a table and left over night. The next morning peep- 
ing was heard from within the basket and on hunting out the egg from which the sound 
came, it was placed in a cigar box on a bed of cotton, the box then placed m a warm oven. 
.\t 4 o’clock p. M. the same day, July 22, a wet, sticky, yolk-covered auklet, struggling for 
freedom, broke through the shell. 
Left on the cotton in the box it was placed in the warm sunshine to dry. After being 
thoroughly dried, Mr. Smith’s mother fed it bits of boiled egg, which it seemed to relish 
and stretched its little neck to receive. 
The auklet was kept warm in cotton and fed regularly for several days. Its little body 
grew to a length of 3.75 inches, with an extent of wings of exactly 3.75 inches also, the 
down on the bird’s body fluffing out thick and warm. On July 26, at just 10 o’clock a. m., 
our little Cassin Auklet (Ptychorainplius alcuticus) passed away, leaving no trace of rea- 
son why it had died, with all the care that had been given it. The bird lived just ninety 
hours. It is now skin no. 275 of my collection. — C. 1. Cl.'VY. 
Gambel Quail (Lophortyx gambcli) in Colorado. — Regarding the status of this bird 
in Colorado I think I may be able to throw some light. It has for some years been believed 
to be a rare resident in the southwestern corner of the state. Prof. Cooke gives the Morri- 
son record of these birds having been taken forty miles southwest of Fort Lewis. Sclater 
