Nov., 1901. I THE CONDOR 185 Notes from Alameda, Cal.
American Barn Owl, Strix pratincola.
The following notes will be of interest in sequel to my account of "Barn Owls in Captivity" in Sept.-Oct. number:--I now attribute the cause of death of the three birds mentioned to prolonged diet of dead chickens, basing my opinion on the effect such diet had upon a cat which had to be killed in consequence. The earliest nesting record in the article referred to was March 24, 1900, 6 eggs, incubation fresh to slight, but this was beaten in 1901 by finding on March 20, 4 eggs in one nest and 5 in another, in- cubation fresh to begin1; and on March 24, 6 eggs in one nest and 7 in another, incubation slight, while much better yet, a nest of young about a week old. These nests are all in Alameda County and were empty later than this on pre- vious years.
Date of nesting of Salt Marsh Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia pusillula. The earliest nesting date of this bird is much earlier, this year at least, than is generally supposed. In recent years I have noted full-fledged young flying about the marshes in April and on March 11 about 10 sets of 3 eggs each were taken on portions of the salt marsh here not subject to overflow from the flood tides. Incubation was fresh to slight and the nests built in the salt weeds or grass, literally upon the ground. Records of Snowy Owl, Nyctea nyclea at Alameda, Cal. My note book con- tains the following: December 2, 1896, a fine specimen was shot by Tom Caw anaugh on the "sand-hills" between the marsh and the beach of Bay Farm Island, and he approached within easy range obtaining a "pot" shot. It passed into the possession of Percy Fox who had it mounted and its identity passed upon by the taxidermist and by H. R. Taylor. October 26, 1897, Sherry Fish (deceased) told me he saw on the marsh the "mate" to the Snowy Owl. Tom Cavanaugh shot last winter. W.E. Bryant reports three birds taken Sonoma County by parties unknown to him, about that date. See California Department of "The Osprey" for Jan- uary 1897 for account. Western Evening Grosbeaks, Cocco- thraustes vesperlinus montanus, were noted twice in Alameda last winter; January 29, 1901, a small flock seen by Percy Fox, feeding upon seeds of pep- per tree in town. March 6, 1901, a flock of 11 ? birds flying in direct line, about 40 ft high, at 5:30 p.m. Song of Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zuotrichia coronata in winter is not an unconlmon occurrence here. October 24, 1901, at present they are singing in- cessantly, often singing but two notes, accentuated exactly like the first two of the regular song of three notes:--as Mr. Jos. Grinnell describes it "oh dear" and "oh dear me."
California Jay, .Aphelocoma californica as a flycatcher. Recently on a vacant lot in town I observed this Jay pursuing a small yellow butterfly and capture it in midair after several manenvers.
Four varieties of rail in one day on salt marsh near Alameda. During a high tide which flooded the marsh about two hours on November 7, 1900, I took lo California Clapper Rail (Rallus obsoletus) one Porzana carolina which is rarer than the next variety. to Porzana jamaicensis, and one, Porzana novebora- tensis, ♂, badly moulting. Rallus vir- ginianus is a rare bird here.
California Creeper, Certhia fmiliaris occidentalis January 14, 1899, ♂ taken here on live oak tree, the only bird I ever noted.
Arizona Goldfinch, Spinus Psaltria arizonae, ♂ taken here, January 16, 1898, among S. psaltria, and one seen at close range, August 20, 1899 , in moult, and feeding upon lettuce tops gone to seed.
Late nesting of Black-crowned Night Heron ,Nycticorax nycliorax naevins. I a recent article in this magazine I com- mented upon late nesting of this species stating that nestlings were heard clam- oring well into August. This year I heard some young in a cypress tree
