Notes on Lewis' Woodpecker. This woodpecker (Melanerpes torquatus) is interesting from the fact that it is neither a winter nor summer bird in this vicinity, but one of the most industrious foragers I have observed. Last summer there were but few acorns and I failed to notice a single bird though I am told that a few of them appeared but left immediately upon the advent of a spell of exceedingly warm weather. It is my belief that it was not the warm weather, but the lack of acorns that induced them to leave. This summer I observed the first bird during the last week in August and by the first of September they were observed by hundreds in one locality. From the diversity of size and plumage I am certain that the parent birds were accompanied by their broods. Their favorite resort is an eastern slope, wooded with white and live Oak with now and then a bull pine and some clumps of underbrush, chaparral etc. Here there were acorns in abundance and the birds were numerous. They are now greatly diminished in numbers and less clamorous, but scattering birds may be seen in the hills, always haunting the oaks. The little Californian Woodpecker resents the intrusion and may often be seen sprinting after its big cousin, with malice in every movement. I am curious to know where the birds nest and if the acorn forms any part of their food, or whether it is the tender grub which induces them to such industry. Again I would like to know why these birds store up so much food and then leave it for other birds to eat, for certain it is that they are not here to eat it themselves. John M. Welch, Copperopolis, Calaveras Co., Cal. Dec. 18, 1898.
Notes on Audubon's Warbler and the Individuality of Eggs. In order to satisfy my curiosity, I shot a male Audubon's Warbler on Jan. 17 and placed the contents of its stomach under a microscope. I found that it contained, with the exception of a small black beetle, and a worm about one-half inch long, nothing but bits of grass. These warblers are abundant every year during the winter in this locality. They spend most of their time on the ground, feeding on grass in the orchards.
In further proof of the individuality of eggs, I have sets of eggs in my collection from two pairs of California Shrikes. Both pair nest within one-half mile of my home and I have taken eggs from each for the past five years. The eggs of pair No. 1 are smaller and rounder than the average specimens, and are very lightly marked. I have two sets in my collection from this bird. In No. 2 the eggs are all heavily marked. I have four sets of eggs from this bird and were it not for the set mark, an egg taken from one set and placed with the other sets from the same bird could not be distinguished. Wm. L. Atkinson, Santa Clara, Cal.
Hylocichla Ustulata Oedica in the Sierra Nevadas. Mr. Oberholser in the Auk Jan. 1899 mentions Marysville as one of the breeding localities of his new subspecies,—oedica. I am certain the Marysville ustulata is a much better singer than that of Santa Cruz and other coast localities where I have heard it, or in any of the many localities in the Sierra Nevadas. By the way, it is rarely found above 4,500 ft. altitude on the west slope, but like several species it ranges up to nearly 7,000 ft. on the east slope. Some of these, as I remember them, are the House Finch and Bullock's Oriole. Our Yellow-billed Magpie seldom gets up to 2,000 ft. although the Black-billed Magpie gets up to at least 7,000 ft. I see one or more nearly every year at the summit of the C. P. R. R. At Truckee, Cal. and vicinity it is very common. Lyman Belding, Stockton, Cal.
Early Bird Arrivals for 1899. Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina.) Observed Dec. 3, 1898. I thought this a rather unusual date to see a number of Swallows which I took to be this species, flying about in a violent rain and windstorm at Point Reyes Station, Cal.
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia arctica.). Feb. 5, 1899. At Pinole, Contra Costa Co., Cal. I met with a large flock of these birds scattered all through a small valley of freshly-plowed ground. They were there by hundreds and any number
