126 THE CONDOR VoL XX resolved themselves into the feathers of a Short-eared Owl. The close correspondence be- tween the localities where the wing-feathers, and the dead Hbrned Owl, respectively, were found, immediately linked up in a suggestive manner two events hitl/erto not guessed to be related., Thereupon, Mr. Swarth, who skinned the Horned Owl, testified that it had already been dead from two to four days when found, and thereby proved a correspondence between the two cicumstances in date as well. From these facts and clues, from other evidence (such as the finding by Mr. Swarth of shot in the body of the owl), and from a study of the canyon and an elimination of certain events that probably did not happen, has been constructed the story of what well might have and probably did happen. This much at least is positive: A Short-eared Owl has occurred on or near the Campus--which is interesting because this owl has not previously been recorded as a Campus bird.--RIcHARD HUNT, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California, March 5, 1918. Nesting Notes from the San Bernardino Valley.--A nest- with five eggs of the Rocif Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) was taken in Colton, California, on March 15, 1917. The weather was unusually cold in January, February and March, 1917; yet this is the earli- est instance that I have noticed. On July 4, 1917, I found a Pasadena Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum pasadenense) incubating three eggs. Apparently incubation was advanced. Several days later when I visited the nest I was sorry to find that the eggs had been destroyed. These birds nest early and this is, by far, the latest record that I have.--W. C. HXNNX, Colton, California, February 15, 1918. The Salton Sink Song Sparrow at Oro Grande, California.--I spent two days, Feb- ruary 17 and 18, 1918, collecting at Oro Grande, near Victorville on the Mohave Desert, San Bernardino County, California. Nine Song Sparrows were taken, six of which were the San Diego. (Melospiza melodia cooperi), two were the Modoc (Melospiza melodia fisherella), and one was the Salton Sink (Melospiza melodia saltonis). To quote Mr. J. Grinnell, who has examined the specimens, "the saltonis is of particular interest as it seems to be our first known occurrence of this species north of the Colorado desert, prol? ably a winter straggler. Only cooperi has been known to breed along the Mohave River." --WRIGHT M. PIrRCr, Claremont, California, March 4, 1918. A Surprising Trait in the Black-necked Stilt.?One who has observed the Black- necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) in the field or who has considered its extreme spe- cialization as a wader would scarcely suspect it of much ability as a diver, yet it has such ability to no little degree. V?nile collecting at Nigger Slough, in the vicinity of Los Angeles, this spring, I brought down a male Stilt from a flock overhead. The bird, with the tip of one wing injured, came down into open water some eighteen inches in depth. It repeatedly tried to escape by diving. These efforts were watched with much interest on my part, and a fairly good view of the performance was obtained. The wings were used in making progress but the po2ition of the feet was not learned. The injured wing tip was an apparent handicap and the bird did not remain below very well. A dist- ance of some four or five feet was the longest dive made. The adult bird must have practically no use for such an accomplishment in a state of nature. Is it a diver whe? in its infancy? Is this a juvenal character persisting in the adult but coming to the su?- face onlyunderunusual stress?--LoYE MILLER, State Normal School, Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, May 9, 1918. Wood Ibis at San Diego.--A pair of Wood Ibises (Mycteria americana), male and female presumably, which I first observed on March 17, 1918, were here for over one ?nonth, and, if they have not been shot, may still be in the vicinity. I never before saw an Ibis here so early. These birds apparently were mated, as they always remained close together when feeding or flying. I have not seen them myself since April 17, but have heard of one being seen lately. My previous earliest record for the species was June 29, 1915, when six appeared and were promptly shot by local gunners, to be left where they fell. It is a pity that the game laws are not recognized to any extent in San Diego city and county by such a large percentage of gunners.--HENR GREY, San Diego, California, May 1, 1918. Evidence on the Food of Hawks and Owls in California.--Most questions as to the food of hawks and owls can be answered by reference to A. K. Fishefts "The Hawks and Owls of the United States in their Relation to Agriculture" (U.S. Dept. Agric., Div. Or- nithology and Mammology, Bull. 3, 1893). In this volume are to be found 210 pages of
