from a pepper tree to have drop at my feet one flecked all over with pure white feathers, particularly on the red breast, giving it a beautiful effect. The white feathers seemed to be much worn on the edges as though cut. This proved to be a female in good condition. Many of the birds of the high Sierras have been driven down nearer the coast than usual this winter. Mountain Bluebirds have been noticed for the first time in ten years. They spend their time hovering on the wing much like the Sparrow Hawks, over the early-sowed grain fields near the Bay shores. Their last appearance was Nov. 1, 1889. Observed this year on Feb. 11, 1899.W. Otto Emerson, Haywards, Cal., Feb. 20, 1899.
California Clapper Rail in Alameda Co. It would be a wise move for the Supervisors of Alameda county to declare a closed season, or two successive closed seasons, on Rail. This is the only means of preventing this fine bird, now almost absent from our marshes, from becoming annihilated. The abundance of bird after two closed seasons several years ago demonstrated the wisdom of such a law. All the sportsmen I have spoken to on this subject are heartily in favor of a closed or much shortened open season. Time, trouble and boat hire are now wasted and even the dog doesn't see any sport in returning empty-handed after a tramp through the salt grass and sticky mud.D. A. Cohen, Alameda, Cal.
Western Evening Grosbeak in Santa Clara Co., Cal. January 2, 1899 there appeared within the limits of San Jose, Cal., a flock of Western Evening Grosbeaks, (Coccothraustes vespertinus montanus) one of which, a male, was procured. Jan. 17, a friend brought me two more males for identification. They were shot from a small flock in an orchard three miles southwest of San Jose. The birds were fat and oily, their stomachs containing buds of trees. At this time the weather was warm and there was but little snow upon the mountains. So far as I know, this constitutes a record for Santa Clara county, it being the first recorded appearance of this alpine species in the valley.Ernest Adams, San Jose, Cal.
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The Myrtle Warbler in California and Description of a New Race.
BY RICHARD C. MCGREGOR.
THE Myrtle Warbler has been recorded as an occasional visitant along the whole Pacific Coast of the United States from San Francisco north, while its breeding haunts have been located in British Columbia,[1] and by Mr. C. H. Townsend[2] it was found breeding on the Kowak River in Alaska. Baird says "Stragglers were seen on Puget Sound and one was taken by Dr. Suckley at Fort Steilacoom, W. T. May 1, 1856."[3] The check-list gives it as "straggling more or less commonly westward to the Pacific."[4]
By Mr. Belding this species is recorded from the following localities: Willamette Valley, Nicasio, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, Haywards, Murphys, Stockton, Marysville and Summit. He also says "in fall and winter it (Myrtle Warbler) is not easily distinguished from Audubon's Warbler and being much less numerous than the latter, is likely to be overlooked in California."[5] In the middle west I find this warbler recorded from Boerne, South-western Texas, in spring;[6] Colorado, 9000 feet in spring; [7] South-eastern Dakota in spring and summer migration,[8] abundant migrant in western Manitoba.[9]
I have taken the Myrtle Warbler near Denver, Colorado during spring migration. During the past year Mr. T. J. Hoover has taken near Palo Alto about thirty warblers of which thirteen are easily recognizable as Dendroica coronata, the others being D. auduboni. Besides those collected by him, Mr.
