July, 1909 TIIE LITTLE BROWN CRANE IN CALIFORNIA 129 Crane a year ago. I think 'it wa? about ten or twelve years ago that I killed the bird out of a flock of possibly 25 or 30 at Newport not far front Santa Ana [Orange County]. I saw another big flock at the time, probably 100 birds. I can not give you any measurements; but you and I both know it was much smaller than the ordinary Sandhill in all measurements." I recently mentioned the subject to Harry S. Swarth, who tells me that he used to see small cranes in the Los Angeles markets. They were said to have been shot on the Centinela ranch, southwest of Los Angeles some twelve miles. Mr. Swarth bought two of these market birds and made them into skins. These were subsequently disposed of to Mr. Outram Bangs. I wrote to Mr. Bangs early this year, as to the whereabouts of the Swarth specimens. Under date of February 9, 1909, I received the following reply: "The two cranes you speak of are in my collection, and are as follows: No. 11,- 441, Bangs Coll.; bought in Los' Angeles market, fresh, March 21, 1904; ? im.; wing, 470 min.; tarsus, 178; culmen, 94. No. 11,440, Bangs Coll.; bought in Los Angeles market, fresh, March 21, 1904; $ad.; wing, 505; tarsus, 201; culmen, 91. The bills are just about the same length in both, but the roughnesses of the forehead in the older bird come down a little more onto the base of the culmen, making this measurement a little shorter." As the above measurements conclu- sively prove, fhe birds in question were (;rus canadens[s. Altho the present seems to be the first definite record of the species for the State, there is little doubt but that many of the sight records of the "Sandhill Crane" really apply to the Little Brown Crane. In 1902 (Pac. Coast, ,Avifauna no. 3, p. 76) I stated that, "altho it is almost certain that this species ((;rus cana- densts) is a common spring and fall migrant thru the State, gpecimens seem to be as yet lacking." Now that specimens have been identified it seems all the more probable that this Crane is of regular occurreno(during the migrations, and per- haps also during the winter, in the southern part of the State. The Sandhill Crane ((;rus mexicana) is undoubtedly the species--as correctly recorded in many places--which summers in various parts of California. The Little Brown Crane summers far to the northward of us. t7erkeley, Cal?brnia. NESTING OF THE ARIZONA JUNCO By FRANK C. WILLARD WITH ONE PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR F the several Juncos which visit the Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, during migration, but one, J'unco phceonolus pallz?tus, remains to breed. From the summit of the mountains down to an altitude of 6000 feet ' on both slopes, the Arizona Junco may be found nesting. As early as May 8, I have seen fully fledged young following their parents and being fed by them. From the middle of May till the last of July fresh eggs of the second brood may be fonnd. The nest is placed on the ground, and under a stone so often that the natives speak of it as "that little bird which builds under a stone". I have also found its nest under a loose piece of pine bark lying on the ground, under an exposed root overhung by dry grass, under a bunch of weeds, a pile of brush, a clump of ferns, etc. The photo shown herewith is of a nest taken May 25, 1907. It was located
