3 14 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.31. Incite latirostris (Sw.).*32. Picus scalaris Wagl.*33. Genturus uropygiolis Baird.34. GoJaptes chrysoides Malh.35. Geococcyx californianus (Less.).36. Polyborus cheriway (Jacq.).37. Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi (Aud.).38. Pandion halicetus carol inensis (Gui.).39. Buteo borealis calurus (Cass.).40. Catltartcs aura (Liun.).41. Catharista atrata (Bartr.).42. Zenaidura carolinensis (Linn.).43. Melopelia leucoplera (Linn.).44. Ghamcepelia passerina (Linn.).45. Scardafella inca (Less.). .46. Lophortyx gambeli Xutt.The species observed only in April are Nos. 6, 11, 12, 14, 20, 31, and 39,Thirty-five of the forty-six species are also represented on the oppositeside of the Gulf, in Lower California, while five others are representedthere by closely allied species or races, as follows:GUAYMAS. LOWER CALIFORNIA.1. Harporhynchus bcndirei. 1. H. cinereus Xantus.2. Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus. 2. C. affix is Xantus.3. Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus. 3. P.fuscus albigula (Baird).4. Picus scalaris. 4. P. scalaris lucasanus (Xaut.).5. Lophortyx gambeli. 5. L. californicus (Shaw).The six species unrepresented, so far as known, in Lower California,are:1. Harporhynchuspa Imeri.2. Vireo vicinior.3. Quiscalus palustris.4. laclie latirostris.5. Catharista atrata.6. Scardafella inca.
NECOIVD CATALOGUE OF A COLLECTION OF BIRDS MADE NEARTOE SOUTHERN EXTREMITY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA.*By L. BELDING.(Edited by R. Ridgway.)Some of the more prominent characteristics of Lower California,south of the parallel of 24? 30', are as follows:The Gulf coast, including the islands of Espiritu Santo and Ceralvo,and the Pacific coast, from Cape St. Lucas to Todos Santos, is mount-
*See Mrs.' Proceedings, Vol. 5, pp. 532-650.
PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 345
ainous, rocky, sandy, and very barren. The Victoria Mountains rangefrom north to south in the center of the peninsula, parallel, in a generalsense, to the Coast ranges, having their greatest height and breadthbetween Triumfo and Miraflores. The remaining portion of the tractunder consideration consists principally of low table-lands or mesas andsandy arroyos.There is a belt of low, mostly fertile, land 15 or 20 miles wide, extend-ing from the Gulf at La Paz to the Pacific at and north of Todos Santos.so low, indeed, that if it should happen to sink about a hundred feetit would be submerged, and that portion of the peninsula lying southof it would become?what it has probably already been?an island.Taking this into consideration, together with the influence the Vic-toria Mountains have had and are having in this direction, it is not dim-cult to account for a local fauna of which it may be said much remains.to be learned.I have observed the following species, with others on the Pacific coast,from Cape St. Lucas to a point 30 miles north of Todos Santos, namely rMim us polyglottus, Harporhynchw cinereus, PhaAnopepla nitens, Auriparusflaviceps, Campylorhynchus affinis, Pipilo fuscus albu/ula, Cardinalisvirginianus igneus, Pyrrhuloxia simiata, Icterus cucullatus, (Jenturu*uropygialis, ColapteschryaoideSj and Picus scalaris lucasanus. These area part of what I have termed the species of the cactus and mesquitethickets. The same species have been observed by me on the Gulf sideas far north as 24? 30' or thereabouts. All of them are likely to occurmuch farther north on the Gulf side, being probably confined theretoby the desert, which covers nearly all the peninsula east of MagdalenaLay, and north to Commonder and far south toward Todos Santos.Other quite similar deserts northwest of Magdalena Bay must tendto restrict these birds to the Gulf coast, wThich is mountainous, and hasmore or less fresh water, whereas, on the Pacific coast, for a distanceof four or five hundred miles, there is not a drop of water, as 1 believe,upon what I consider reliable information, and actual observation.
U. BIRDS OF THE MOUNTAINS.Arriving at La Paz December 15, 1882, 1 remained in Southern LowerCalifornia until March 23, 1883, much of this time being spent in thesaddle. Only a small number of specimens were secured, althoughamong them were several new or undescribed species.The most important localities visited were in the Victoria Mountains,which were probably never previously explored by any collector. 1ascended these mountains by three different trails on as many differentspurs. The trail leading to Laguna is the longest, highest, and possihhthe worst; however, 1 suppose either of them would be considered im-passable in any other country than Mexico. On this trail an altitudeof about 5,000 feet was reached. Prom an altitude of about 3,500 feeland upward the flora was partly that of the temperate /one.
;>4(j PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.This region is well watered and well timbered with medium-sizedoaks and pines, the latter constituting about a tenth of the forest, beingdistributed unevenly among the oaks. Bunch grass was everywhereabundant. On February 1, the date of our arrival here, a Blackberry(Rubus)j a Black Currant (Ribes), the Ma(Irona (Arbutus menziexi), aMonkey F'ower (Mimulus), the Painted Cap (Castilleia), a fine Lupine,(Lupmus), and a few other plants, were in flower and thriving, althoughthe tender shoots of some of the annuals had been nipped by frost.An interesting Xolcna reminded us we were still in the tropics,although we had left the cactus and mesquite thickets with their char-acteristic species tar beneath us, or below an altitude of 1,5U0 feet.Upon meeting the first pines, I discovered almost simultaneously thelong sought Cape Robin [Merula confinis Baird), the beautiful newSnowbird (Jtinco bairdi), and other interesting species.The purpose is not to give at this time an extended account of expe-riences here; but, instead, the following list is presented. It contains allthe species known by me to occur in these mountains, although a changeof season may change the avifauna, some species perhaps going northin spring, others from the surrounding low lauds replacing them. Per-haps some species escaped my notice by being iu the deep gorges sonumerous in the Victoria Mountains.1. Hylocichla unalascas (Gin.).Common ; possibly resident.2. Merula confinis (Baird.)Only about a dozen Cape Robins were seen, and these were all on theLaguna trail. About half were found singly, one as low as 2,500 feetabove sea level.
.Mr. Cipriano Fisher, an American, who had often hunted deer atLaguna, informed me that Robins were sometimes abundant there.This may be the case when the berries of the California Holly (Hetero-meles), which grows abundantly in the neighborhood, are ripe.The type specimen, shot by Xantus at Todos Santos in summer, mayhave been a straggler from the mountains. Possibly there was a mistakemade in recording it, as I suspect was the case with the Oreortyx pictaplumifera (see Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.,Yol. 5, p. 533), which is not atpresent a bird of Cape St. Lucas; and this leads me to remark that Iconsider the term "Cape species," when it covers all the birds from LaPaz and south of it, an inappropriate one?inappropriate for the goodreason that so few of the so-called Cape species really occur at CapeSt. Lucas?its only special advantage as a collecting ground being itswell-sheltered harbor, which affords good opportunities for shootingmarine species.3. Polioptila coerulea (Linn.).
( Jommon, and probably the only Polioptila seen ; but it is not possibleto be positive, as all the PolioptilcB of Southern Lower California look
PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 347much alike in the field, the black capped species being rarely met with inwinter, or before March or April.4. Regulus calendula (Linn.).Moderately common ; from 3,000 feet altitude upward.5. Lophophanes inornatus cinerasceus Ridgw. (See these Proceeding, p. 154.)Common from 3,000 feet altitude upward ; probably a constant resi-dent. Nothing special noted concerning- its habits.[A second specimen, from the Victoria, Mountains, February 22,agrees exactly with the type. Measurements: Wing, 2.80; tail, 2.40;culmen, .45; tarsus, .80; middle toe, .50. The sex not determined.
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R. R.]6. Psaltriparus grindae Belding. (See these Proceedings, p. 155.)Same remarks.[Two additional specimens agree exactly with the type. Theirmeasurements are as follows: No. 00069, S ad., San Francisco Mount-ains, February 22, 1883: Wing, 1.85; tail, 2.10; culmen, .23; tarsus,
.60; middle toe, 31. No. 00070 (sex not determined), Victoria Mount-ains, February 20, 1883: Wing, 1.00; tail, 2.15; culmen, .25; tarsus,
.00; middle toe, .32.?R. R.]7. Sitta carolinensis aculeata (Lass ) .'Less common than the preceding.8. Catherpes mexicanus conspersus Ridgw.Moderately common throughout all altitudes.9. Anthus ludovicianus (Gin.)-A large tlock seen at Laguua, supposed to be this species. The onlysuitable ground observed was a meadow, containing about a square mile.10. Helminthophila celata lutescens, Ridgw.Very common.11. Dendrceca auduboni (Towns.).Common.12. Dendrceca nigrescens (Towns.).Very common above 3,000 feet altitude; also of occasional occurrencein mountain canons of about 1,000 feet altitude.13. Vireo huttoni stephensi Brewster.Common above 3,000 feet altitude; not observed below this.14. Pyranga ludoviciana (Wil? ).Bare : also seen at La Paz.15. Astragalinus psaltria (Say).Only one flock observed!16. Spizella socialis arizc-nee (ones.Rather rare; not seen below 3,000 feet altitude.
348 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.17. Spizella atrigularis (Caban.).The only individual observed was shot and wounded, but it escapedin rocks just as 1 was about to grasp it. *Afterward, near Pescadero, I saw a small flock, and secured a speci-men. It must be rare in Southern Lower California.18. Junco bairdi Belding. (See these Proceedings, p. 155.)This interesting- bird was very common in the Victoria Mountainsabove 3,000 feet altitude. Nothing worthy of note in connection withits habits was noticed.This species is so named in consideration of the valuable ornithologicalservices of Prof. IS. F. Baird, in field and office, not the least of suchservices being his original, full, and accurate descriptions of so many!North American birds.[Two specimens received since the original description of the specieswas published agree exactly with the types in coloration, and measureas follows: No. 90048 $ ad., Laguna, Feb. 1883: Wing, 2.75; tail, 2.00;culmen, .40; depth ot bill at base, .23; tarsus, SO; middle toe, .55. No.1)0047, 2 ad., Victoria Mountains, Feb. 21, 1883: Wing, 2.75; tail, 2.65;culmen, .42 ; depth of bill at base, .23 ; tarsus, .80; middle toe, .55?It. K.]19. Peucaea ruficeps boucardi (Scl.).Common on grassy hillsides above 2,500 feet altitude; usually seenin pairs in February.20. Melospiza lincolni (And.).Less common than the preceding in similar localities.21. Pipilo maculatus megalonyx (Baird).Very common.22. Pipilo chlorurus (Towns.)Common.23. Icterus parisorum Bonap.Very rare. Three individuals were seen as high as 4,500 feet.24. Corvus corax carnivorus (Bartr. ).Common.25. Aphelocoma californica (Vig.).Moderately common.26. Tyrannus vociferans Swain.Bare; seen only around the meadow at Laguna.27. Empidonax difScilis Baird.Rare.28. Calypte costae (Bourc).
?A humming bird, supposed to have been a female of this species, wasobserved, at about 4,000 feet altitude. Not observed at any other timeabove 2,000 feet, 0. costce thrives in barren, waterless tracts.
PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 34929. Basilimia xautusi (Lawr.).Decidedly abundant in the highest mountains, much more so than inthe low country, where it is usually found near fresh water.30. Picus scalaris lucasanus (Xant.).Earely seen.31. Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis Baird.A specimen was obtained at Laguna, on February 1. Probablyseen upon two other occasions.32. Melanerpes formicivorus angustifroiis Baird.Very abundant in the higher mountains. Colonies are occasionallyfound in the oaks as low as 700 feet altitude.33. Colaptes chrysoides (Malh.).I was unable to get a specimen of the flicker in the mountains. Sawbut two or three individuals. As these had golden wing and tail shafts,I presume the species was as above given.34. Scops .The tremulous notes of a screech-owl were heard at several of thecamps. Also at Agua Caliente and Miraflores.[This was, perhaps, 8. trichopsis Wagl. The National Museum pos-sesses two young specimens collected by Xantus at Cape St. Lucas, ofa species allied to but apparently distinct from 8. asio, but adults fromthis region are as yet unknown. Cf. Hist. N. Am. Birds, iii, p. 52.
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E. E.j35. Bubo virginianus sabarcticus (Hoy).Horned owls?w^hich were supposed to have been of this specieswere frequently heard and occasionally seen.[A wing, undoubtedly of this race, was among Mr. Belding's speci-mens.?E. E.J36. Micratheue whitneyi (Cooper.)This diminutive owl appeared to be less common here than in thecactus region ; however, it was heard at several of our camps. I triedmore than an hour, one night, to see one which I had brought near me,by imitating its cries; but I could not with the advantage of brightmoonlight and the assistance of opera glasses see the little fellow,though he sat in a lone tree not 20 feet from me, and remained in tin'sparticular tree five or ten minutes. Neither myself nor Dr. H. TenKate, my esteemed companion of two subsequent ascents in the VictoriaMountains, was able to get an owl of any sort in all our wanderingshere and elsewhere in Lower California. In a single instance I think Iheard a Glaucidium, and again a noise I referred to some unknownanimal, but the guide said it was a "Tapa Cainino," or Whippoorwill.II may have been the notes of Phalamoptilus nuttalli, with which I amnot acquainted. Have resided in California twenty-seven years, anddo not think [ have vet heard it.
3.50 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED .STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.37. Tinnunculus sparverius (Linn.).Common.38. Buteo borealis calurus (Cass.).The Red Tailed Hawk, common in the low country, was quite ascommon in the mountains.39. Cathartes aura (Linn.).Very common and sociable.40. Colurnba fasciala (S:iy.)Abundant and breeding in February. Several nests were seen inoak trees, but not closely examined, however, they were so frail, twigsalone having- been used in their construction. The eggs could be seenby looking through them from below. Their flesh was here excellent,notwithstanding they were subsisting principally upon the acorns ofthe deciduous oak [Quercus grisea).41. Melopelia leucoptera (Linn.).Very common.
b. Birds of the lowlands (vicinity of La Paz and southward).Additional specimens from La Pa: and south of it.1. Anthus cervinus (Pall.). (See page 156 of these proceedings.)The single specimen was shot at San Jose del Cabo, on the bank ofan irrigating ditch, February 7, 1883. Finding it in such a locality, atfirst sight I supposed it was a water thrush, as it was alone.
I was unable afterward to find the species, although I persecuted alarge flock of A. ludovicianus for several days after shooting it.2. Myiodioctes pusillus pileolatus (Pall.).Rare, but observed at several localities.3. Setophaga ruticilla (Linn.).Shot in a dense thicket at Miraflores February 24, 1883. An indi-vidual probably seen at La Paz in March following.4. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus (l>p.)Rare.[A specimen from San Jose" del Cabo is peculiar in several respects,and may be a different species. For the present, however, I place ithere, pending the examination of more specimens, should any be pro-cured.? \l. \l.\5. Pocecetes gramineus confinis Baird.Rare.6. Melospiza lincolni (And.).Rare.7. Agelaeus phceniceus (Linn.).Rare.
PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 3518. Sturnella neglecta And.Bare.9. Accipiter cooperi Bonap.Rare.10. Gallinago wilsoiri (Tomm.).Rare.11. Stegaiiopus wilsoni (Sab.).One specimen. Very rare.12. Poizaua Carolina (Linn. ).Rarely seen.13. Chaulelasmus streperus (Linn.).Very common.14. Erismatura rubida (Wils.).Very common.15. Tachybaptes dominicus (Linn.).Very common at San Jose, Miraflores, and Santiago, in the winter oflsxi.'-'Sy, but not .recognized the previous winter.BIRDS OF LOWER CALIFORNIA SOUTH OF 24? 30'.
e. Species positively identified by me, put no specimens pre-served.1. .ZEsalon columbaiius (Linn.).Dr. H. Ten Kate got a specimen at La Paz in January.2. Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.).Moderately common in winter.3. Haematopus palliatus Temm.Of occasional occurrence on the mud flats at La Paz.4. Oxyechus vociferus (Linn.).Common at many localities.5. JEgialitis semipalmata Bonap.Moderately common.6. Pelidna alpina americana Cass.Very common in winter.7. Totanus melanoleucus (Gniel.).S;ii!ie remark as the preceding.8. Symphemia semipalmata (Gmel.).Same remarks.9. Recurvirostra americana Gmel.Not common.
352 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.10. Himantopus rnexicanus (Miill.).Not common.11. Anas boscas Linn.Shot ;it several localities.12. Dafila acuta (Linn.).Common.13. Nettion carolinensis (Gmel.).Moderately common.14. Fulix affinis (Eyt.).Eare.15. Fulix collaris (Donov.).Pare.16. .Slthyia americana (Eyt.).An adult male shot at La Paz February 12 is the only example.17. Mergus serrator Linn.Common at La Paz in winter.18. Lophodytes cucullatus (Linu.).Hare.19. Felecanus erythrorhynchus Gmel.Two seen at La Paz February 17.20. Sula leucogastra (Bodil.).Dr. H. Ten Kate shot an individual near Pichaliuque Bay in January.21. Colymbus torquatus Brtinn.Two seen by me at La Paz January 27.In the "Catalogue of a collection of birds made near the southernextremity of Lower California" (see these Proceedings, Vol. 5, pp. 532-5-19), 135 species are mentioned as having been observed by me.To these may be added
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21 species positively identified, but no specimens preserved.17 additional from the Victoria mountains.14 additional from the low lands of La Paz and south.
.~>L' total additions.Total observed to date, 187 species, excluding several unidentifiedspecies, among them, at least two falcons and one owl. The most ofthem, however, are water birds, which are in the aggregate abundantin winter.