Jan., 1914 
THE PEOPLE’S BREAD 
27 
erally reach by tipping, etc., page 44. Not conspicuously! The Fulvous Tree- 
duck is found “west to the Pacific Coast in southern California", page 61. The 
center of its abundance, however, is in central, not southern California. The 
white-faced Glossy Ibis “is occasionally found in southern California”, page 63. 
Also to the number of some thousands in central California, northern California, 
and Oregon. Red Phalaropes are said to retain their winter plumage until after 
they leave us in the spring, page 73. They may be seen in the latitude of San 
Francisco in highest nuptial dress during the spring migrations. The Wander- 
ing Tattler is seen “building its nest along the marshy shores and banks of 
streams," page 84. Pure hypothesis ! The Wilson Plover is said to be abundant 
on the coast of southern California, page 89. There is one record of its occur- 
rence, accounted accidental. The Black Oystercatcher is credited “with no at- 
tempt at nest building,” page 92. Its elaborate accumulations of transported peb- 
bles, or rock flakes, are marvels of their kind, and I have known it to con- 
struct an elaborate nest of grasses, after the fashion of the gulls. The Bob-White 
is “fairlv abundant in parts of California,” page 93. The rearing of Bob-Whites 
is an admitted failure throughout California owing to the prevalence of foxes. 
The Prairie Falcon sometimes nests in trees. “Their nests are made of sticks 
lined with weeds and grass,” page T13. This falcon never lays talon to twig in 
the Pacific Coast States, and the solitary instance of tree nesting cited by Goss is 
supposed to have been of a pair nesting in a cavity of a tree. Red-breasted Sap- 
sucker, ‘‘a Pacific Coast bird from Lower California to Oregon”, page 132. Its 
range also includes all of Washington and much of British Columbia. The Red- 
headed Woodpecker, page 134, “occurs fairly common in Arizona”, whereas tne 
A. O. U. Committee properly accounts it casual there. White-throated Swifts 
“congregate in thousands about the tops of inaccessible cliffs”, page 140. A few 
scores at a time are all that most of us Westerners have ever seen. Is it possible 
that the author has the “Republican” (now the Progressive) Swallow in mind? 
Western Flvcatcher — we are passing by much of the alleged information about 
w'estern oology, for most of it is mere piffle anyhow- : but how is this for the sole 
characterization of the nesting of the Western Flycatcher? “The nest is placed 
on the low^er branches near the ground” ! In view of this bird’s well-known pen- 
chant for niches in cliffs and cubby holes of any kind, the description is scarcely 
adequate. California Jay, page 156, “the most common of the Jays on the Pacific 
Coast of * * * and Washington”, whereas, in Washington it is of very lim- 
ited. occurrence along the north bank of the Columbia only. Large-billed Spar- 
rows, page 178, ‘‘Their nesting habits and eggs are practically the same as those 
mentioned previously”. This wdll be welcome news to most of our western 
oologists, who have been searching long and longingly for this to them unknown 
nest. Of course they may prove to be the same , — qnien sabcf But the author of 
the “Guide” knows, for he says of the San Benito Sparrow just following, “Nest- 
ing habits are identical”. Etc., etc., etc. 
Perhaps the Critic will be accused of taking his task over-seriously, but he 
does feel that it is a serious matter. This gaudy, sloppy bauble will be the ornitho- 
logical Bible of thousands. The plain people will feed upon it ; and the people’s 
bread is of infinitely greater importance than the pastry of princes. I have small 
time to discuss with you whether a slightly more ashen shade of “mummy brown ’ 
on the thirteenth scapular of a sparrow entitles its bearer to recognition as a subter- 
sub-species of Mclospka melodia indnita. If you say so we will let it go at that, 
and you may enter the ornithological Valhalla on that ticket, if you will : but when 
a bunch of l>ook-making Yankees tells us that the Light-footed Rails are ten inch- 
