-:5 5 9 i'i , vo.. specimens are somewhat darker than the southern California birds but most are considerably lighter than birds from Palo Alto, the type locality of intermedia. Psaltriparus m. minimus. California Bush-tit. Common at all wooded or brushy points on the route. Hylocichla u. ustulata. Russet-backed Thrush. Often heard on the Little Sur where one was caught in a mouse trap. Sialia mexicana occidentalis. Western Bluebird. Noted between Monterey and the Little Sur. Common in the pines of upper Big Creek where four imtna- tures were taken. FlkO1l FIELD AND STUDY Contopus virens in Colorado.--Since the publication of my article on Colorado birds iu the last January CONDOR, the specimen mentioned as labeled doubtfully Contopus viren by Mr. Ridgway has been positively identified by him as of that species. It thus affords the first record for Colorado. The specimen was taken near Springfield, Baca County, Colorado, May I2, I9OS.-- EDWARD R. WARR?:N, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Scott Orioles at San Diego.--In front of our sitting-room window and six feet distant are severe1 aloes of a small species, bearing panides of tubular orange flowers on stems about three feet high. In the latter part of April a male Scott oriole (lrclerus parisorum) alighted many times on these stems, most frequently mornings. He would thrust his bill deeply into the blossoms and appeared to suck the nectar. He was very deliberate, sampling nearly all the the nectar. When the blossoms began to wither the Oriole would pick off each blossom and press blossoms at each visit. I got the impression that he did not gather any insects, simply drinking the base of the tube as if extracting the residue. I saw the femme at the aloe blossoms but once. The pair were frequent visitors to a group of "wild tobacco" trees at the back of the house.--KA'r? S?r?t?Ns, San Diego, California. Some Items in the Diet of California Shrikes.--For the last two or three years a pair of California shrikes (Lanius L gambeli)have inhabited the eucalyptus trees growing in our yard. In the yard are also two large century plants. The thorns on these century plants are favorite shambles of the shrikes. Some of the food items observed sticking on the thorns are: Lizards of several species including "horned toads" (Phrynomosa), scorpions, centipedes, Jernsa- leto crickets, beeries, young quail, adult and young horned larks, a meadow mouse, and young pocket rats. The heads of the mice and rats were eaten first; but the heads of the horned toads were usually allowed to remain on the thorns. The shrikes do not appear to care for the lizards as they are usually allowed to remain and dry on the thorns. I have broods of young chickens running about the place, including one brood without a mother. None of these have beeu molested by the shrikes.--KATE STEPHENS, San Diego, California. The lqote of the Golden-crowned Sparrow.--With the first autumn rains the golden- crown (Zonolrichia coronala) is with us; and again is heard his high, sweet song, consisting of three prolonged notes. These have been translated by the words, "Oh, dear me," and are familiar and dear to every Californian. This song '? t? is one of the simplest and most clear-cut of all our bird notes; yet even here there is a chance for indi- vidual variation and originality. I have heard at least two different renderings. One, by far the most common, consists of a minor cadence given in different keys at different ? i ? i ?t. times. Another, heard occasionally in an olive orchard near Santa Barbara, was antiphonal to this: It obviously added very. much to the interest of ? the performance. This orchard was a favorite sleeping place of sparrows, and at sunset was full of their clear notes. Will not someone observe the "rain bird" during the coming season, and note other variations from this typical song?-- A?A H?AD, 2?erkeley, California.
