July, 19o 5 [ FROM FIELD AND STUDY 113 Date of Arrival of Purple Martin at Stockton, Cal.--I have several records of the arrival of Pro, he subis hesperia in the spring at Stockton, that are earlier than at any locality on the Pacific Coast, from Cape San Lucas northward. The first male arrived on the following dates: March 1, 1879; March 6, I885; March 5, 1886; March 9, 19; March 7, 19o3; March 2, 19o 5. On the last date a male and female were seen on their favorite perch near a nesting site which this pair had probably used several summers and are nesting in this summer. I first saw the species at San Jose del Cabo, April 29, 1882, and according to Mr. Brewster it did not arrive in the Cape Region of Lower California until April 29, 1887. The Cape Region is about 12oo miles south of Stockton. Progne probably arrives at Stockton by Tehachapi Pass or by some other interior route.--L. BELDING Stockton, Cal. Curious Situation for Nest of Ash-throated Flyeateher.--In June, 19o3, I found a pair of ?q/yiarchus c. cinerascens which had taken up quarters in ?.he stub of an old willow, some sixteen inches in diameter and three feet high, which stood at the end of a watering-trough for cattle. I would not have taken any notice of it if the bird had not flown from the nest, which was situated in the hollow stump about eighteen inches deep and was made wholly of cows' hair. The eggs were within about two days of hatching. The top of the stub was about twenty inches above the trough and the end of it had been polished to a glossy smoothness where cattle had used it as a scratching post. This did not apparently alarm the flycatchers, as I spent sometime watching them fly in and out. I pulled the stump off and it now acts as a wren's home in one of our garden pepper trees.--W. OTTO EMERSON, /laywards, Cal. A Bird?s Roost.--A tall eucalyptus tree which had grown beside my barn for the past twenty-five years had to be removed. It was cut down while I was away during the day, but on my return at dusk I was attracted by a lot offunco hyemalis pinosus, /)endroica auduboni, and ZonolricMa L nullalii flying about the barn in great bewilderment. They were coming in from all directions and would fly to where they had been used to roosting, but their lodging house was gone. They came by fours and more, hovering in mid-air, and fluttered about in circles, then alighted on the barn which stood within three feet tof ,the fallen tree. Many dodged down into the cypress hedge in front of the barn, keeping up short flights to the fallen tree as it lay in the road. Many were perched on the electric wires for some minutes as if roedilating on being turned out of their roosting place. This tree measured 135 feet in height and had been a land-mark to the locality, being very symmetrical in body and beautifully crowned with foliage. Every year, both summer and winter it was a great congregating place for birds. Orioles, hummers, house finches and gold- finches nested among its slender leaves; while during the winter months blue jays screamed at English sparrows, and the meadow lark sought its branches for his morning song. Even hawks and owls sought it for a vantage point. What numbers of nests this tree could name had it but words to do so!--W. OTTO EMERSON,//aywards, Cal. Dendroiea /estiva rubiginosa at }laywards, Cal.--The following is a list of Den- droica re. rubiginosa in my collection. Measurements are in millimeters. No. Sex Locality Date Length Wing Tail Cuhnen lO3O ? Monterey, Cal. Sept. 28, ?896 112 59 44 1o i453 ? Haywards, Cal. Sept. 8, i897 118 6o 47 IO 2442 ? Haywards, Cal. Sept. 29, 19oo 116 60 48 ii 2431 c? Haywards, Cal. Sept. 20, 19oo II 5 59 46 io 311o ? Haywards, Cal. Oct. 8, 1901 112 59 46 II 3IO7 c? Haywards, Cal. Oct. 5, I9OI 116 60 44 io 3386 ? Haywards, Cal. Sept. 3 o, 19o2 I12 ,58 41 II I9I 3 ?? Haywards, Cal. Oct. 4, I898 58 46 i923 ? Haywards, Cal. Oct. 7, I898 59 50 52 2425 ? Haywards, Cal. Sept. 14, ?898 58 The last three skins were sent to Mr. Grinnell (See CONDO}?, Jan. 19Ol , p. 15) as being IV. celata lutescerts, the back easily misleading one as to their identity. So far I have been un- able to note or take the Alaska yellow warbler in the spring migration. It is only a fall migrant in this locality, and then one must be on the alert, before sunrise, to note them as they silently move through the trees, feeding. Only three of the specimens were taken among the willows along the creek side; the others were found feeding in pepper trees. This warbler seems to re- turn from the north following the first fall rains of September and October. By the latter part of July the young and adults of reslira have all left this vicinity. IFilsonia p. chryseola lingers a month or so longer, and then one will find moving through the live oaks D. lownsendi, D. nigrescens, D. anduboni, and perhaps the rare D. occidenla/is.--W. OTTO EM?:?SON, tiray - wards, Cal.
