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FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
Vol. XV 
discrepancy in the numbers of water- and shore-birds, I believe California may, 
in a favorable season, safely cross friendly foils with that most favored and de- 
servedly famous home of the bird horizon, Oberlin. 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
The Status of the Gambel Quail in Colorado. — In viev/ of the knowm facts regarding 
the status of the Gambel Quail in Colorado, I hesitate to believe that it was Mr. L. J- 
Hersey’s intention to convey the impression that the specimens taken in the Uncompahgre 
valley extended the natural range of these birds 100 to 120 miles north of that given by 
Cooke and Sclater (see Condor xv, 1913, p. 93). Those unfamiliar with the following facts, 
however, might be misled into that belief. 
Notwithstanding the extensive work that has been done on the birds of Colorado, the 
quail of the western slope have remained unidentified since their introduction there, more 
than twenty-five years ago, the broad term “California quail” having been accepted without 
question. Being assured of the mistake in their identity at the time the specimens referred 
to by Mr. Hersey were taken I began an investigation with a view of determining the 
facts concerning their presence. 
About 1885 or 1886 twenty-five interested gentlemen secured nearly one thousand 
“California quail,” which they liberated “at or near Montrose,” Montrose County (according 
to the official records of Montrose County), and not at Grand Junction, Mesa County, as 
given by all the literature on the subject. The names of the gentlemen were secured from the 
records and much correspondence followed, but it failed to produce the slightest evidence 
as to the locality from v/hich the birds had been obtained, until I was finally referred to 
Mr. J. D. Heard, of Los Angeles. Mr. Heard’s reply to inquiries is as follows; “I am in 
receipt of your valued favor of March 6th and in answer beg leave to say that if my 
memory serves me right the quail shipped to Colorado twenty-five years ago were trapped 
at or near Fresno, California.” I am not acquainted with Mr. Heard’s connection with 
the shipment, but it is evident that if he is not mistaken californica occurs, or has occurred, 
in this state. Two gentlemen directly interested, old residents of the region, agree that 
the introduction was highly successful from the first, yet efforts have failed to disclose the 
slightest trace of Lophortyx californica in either Montrose, Mesa or Delta counties. There 
would therefore seem no reason for believing they were there, other than through the 
long acceptance of a mere term. 
Gambel Quail are extremely abundant, and since the birds recorded by Mr. Hersey 
were taken within ten miles of the original point of introduction, it is not unnatural to 
suppose that they originated from that source. Certainly, there is no evidence whatever of 
their presence being due to natural causes. 
Mr. Hersey’s reference to Sclater’s proof concerning the records of gambeli taken 
south of Old Fort Lewis is very interesting; and altogether, until further evidence is at 
hand, it seems apparent that Lophortyx gambeli has no rightful place in the list of native 
Colorado birds. — J. D. Figgins. 
Pelagic V/anderers. — On the night of December 8, 1912, while on a vessel about 700 
miles southwesterly from San Francisco, a white-rumped petrel came aboard and was 
secured by the writer. It measures as follows: wing, 6.15; tail, 3.33; bill, .62. These 
measurements would seem to indicate that this specimen is the Leach Petrel (Oceanodroma 
leiicorhoa.) 
On April 8, 1913, while on shipboard about 750 miles southwesterly from San Francisco, 
two Laysan Albatrosses {Diomedea inimiitabilis) were noted. They were first seen about 
11 A. M. and they were still following the ship at dark, at which time we w'ere about 600 
miles out from the California coast. At daylight the next morning they had disappeared, 
and w^ere not further seen. — G. WiLDETT. 
Scott Oriole {Icterus parisoriim) at Santa Barbara. — A young male of this species 
sang so loudly from a neighboring sycamore tree on the morning of May 7 that he roused 
me from slumber, although I especially provide against such nonsense by sleeping with a 
pillow plastered over my ear. The bird challenged several times and then departed down 
Mission Creek; whither I followed after a hasty toilet, to overtake him an hour later. Mr. 
George L. Hamlin prepared the skin, and he told me that he had been in pursuit of this 
same bird in the Oak Park section for a week. — William LEon Dawson. 
