the town must present many most desirable breeding localities for these birds,
though but few were seen at any one time.
A few thrashers were obtained both from Santa Barbara and Point Concep- tion, though hardly a sfifficient number to be of definite value for comparison. A distinct difference in shade of coloration was noticeable however between the spec- imens from the two localities, so much so as to enable one to separate them at a glance. The Point Conception specimens are of a lighter shade on lower parts and whiter on throat, with line of denlarkation on breast between lighter and darker feathers more pronounced than in those from Santa Barbara itself. This difference did not appear to be due to fading, moulting, or wind abrasion, and on further investigation with a good series may prove to be geographical variation. The seasonally late dates on which these specimens were secured were unfortunate as the wing and tail feathers are so badly worn at the end as to have no mensura- rive value.
California jays were not numerous in the territory visited, and were rather shy, so a much smaller series was taken than had been hoped for, especially as quite a curious fact is noticeable among specimens secured. This is that all those from Point Conception, and the only adult from the Santa Inez River have the lower mandible greatly worn off at the point, causing it to end as if filed squarely across, with a slight backward bevel, but with the file not held sufficiently tight to ensure a flat surface. In some cases the lower mandible is at least one-tenth of an inch shorter than what it apparently should be. The upper mandible in some of these specimens is worn and blunted to some extent, while in others, where not so worn is so much hooked over as to appear abnormal. The specimens from Santa Barbara township, however, have nothing unusual noticeable about the bill. In series from other localities individual idiosyncrasies of various kinds will be found, but in 'this instance, of the nine adults secured, the four from Point Con- ception and the single one from Santa Inez River show the same peculiarity, though the typographic, climatic, and floral conditions differ considerably, while the four frown Santa Barbara show nothing but a reasonable amount of wear. Un- less further observation prove the hypothesis incorrect it would seem as if this abnormal condition was the result of some difference either in the food itself or in the manner of 'securing it, as the birds may be in the habit of striking the lower mandible against hard ground or rock when capturing or gathering its food.
Bird Notes from Eastern California and Western Arizona
BY FRANK STEPHENS
(Concluded)
Megascops asio cineraceus. Mexican Screech Owl. A male bird shot in the dusk of the evening of August r5th, twenty five miles below Ehrenberg, on the California side of the Colorado, was identified by Mr. Ridgway as ?r. a. cineraceus. This is probably the form found along the Colorado. I heard screech owls in sev- eral places along the river. At about 50oo feet altitude, in the Providence Mountains, I flushed a Megascops from a thick pinyon tree growing in a narrow gulch but was unable to find it again; it was probably bendirei. In the Hualapai
