Page:CooperBull1(4).djvu/10

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

BULLETIN OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. an advertisement in a local paper, offer- ing to pay a good cash price for several sets of eggs of the Sage Grouse. In a few days a small country lad stood in Mr. Forrer's presence offering a set of nine eggs of the desired species. Mr. Forrer accepted these, paid the stip- ulated price and the lad returned to his country home. The next day the lad brought two more sets which were also taken. Two days later more sets were brought! Mr. Forrer's suspicions were then aroused and after a critical exam- ination it was decided that the eggs were frauds and they were thereupon destroyed. Mr. Forrer gained in ex- perience, while the boy ?vas richer by several dollars as the result of a clever imitation which could not have been done so neatly except by one who knew the bird and its eggs well. I had the pleasure of examining one of these eggs which Mr. Forrer saved for future reference. I concluded it was the egg of a small breed of chicken, carefully wrapped in cloth having small, irreg- ular markings, and by applying vinegar the print was left on the shell of the egg. Mr. Forrer was widely known in Europe as well as in the United States among the older naturalists, but less so with the younger generation, since in his later years active field work was abandoned, excepting, perhaps, in shells, star-fish and sea mosses. The seashore about Santa Cruz offered many advantages in these branches. I have seen Mr.'Forrer, accompanied by his wife, collecting the beauties that lurked among the rocks as the tide went out, on many occasions. In the death of Alfonse Forrer we lose a noted natural- ist, one who has been a friend to many a struggling youth in helping him along the difficult path to a better knowledge of avian life, the beauties of the sea and the freedom that can be en- joyed in nature study. GEO. F. BRENINGER. Phoenix, Arizona, May e?, ?899. Some Summer Birds of Palamar Mountains, from the .Notes of J. Maurice Hatch. BY RICHARD C, MCGREGOR. HIS list of birds, observed by Mr. Hatch on the Palamar Mountains, 7 between June t6and et, ?897 , has been arranged froin notes which he 8 sent me for use in the state list. The mountains have an altitude of 5ooo to 6ooo feet and are covered with firs, 9 oaks and cedars. Ferns and under- brush of various kinds abound. Num- erous small streams of water are present. ? Oreorty? pictus plum?rus.-Fairly common. A nest found June ?9, con- tained five well incubated eggs. 2 Lophortyx calComica vallicola.-Com- mort at western base of the mount- ains. A female taken June t6 had an egg in the oviduct. 3 Uohemba fasciata.-About ? birds seen near western base of mountains on June t 5. 4 Zenaidura macroura.-Common at western base of mountains. One young in the nest found June t 5. 5 Pseudogryphus caltfornianus.-Breeds. One seen on the t6th and four more two days later. 6 Uathartes aura.-Quite common both at the base and on the summit, ]hdeo borealis calurus.-One pair seen on the summit. ]?lco sparverius deserticolus,-Fairly common on the summit of the moun- tains where it probably breeds. ,?el?nerpes formicivorous bairdi.-Very common at this time of the year. Some young birds and adult males were collected, the latter having the testes very large. ro Uolaptes cafer.-Fairly common sum- ruer resident. Ualypte cost(e.-A few pairs seen. ? Ualypte anna.-A few pairs seen. ?3 A/ffiarchus cinerascens.-A few seen. One taken on the ?9th. ?4 Contopus richardsonii.-Common. Nests from " to 5o feet from the ground. Two nests collected con- tained two and three eggs respect- ively. ?5 0tocoris alpestris chrysol(ema.-A few pairs seen on the western slope of the mountains. 6 Uyanocitta stelleri frontalis.-Common. Both young of the year and new nest