california condor Eben Mcmillan 24 October 1963 seen condor since I was here last. Gib McKinsey thought I might see condor if I watched near the mouth of Tunis canyon. Two of the Cowboys with whom I chatted, before the others arrived, thought there should be condors around during the last month if they liked dead calves, for they said great numbers of Calves had been aborted by Tejon Ranch Cows, and heifers, during the last month. This is the first direct evidence I have gained that abortion was prevalent in the Tejon herd this fall, for there seems to be a reluctance on the part of all people, associated with this problem, to admit of its seriousness. These two Cowboys said they saw no reason to hide the fact that abortion was taking a toll of ranch Calves before birth, and that they thought it should be discussed, and made public information, in that there is nothing to be gained by keeping it secret. Today the Cowboys had been working the purebred herd of Cows that is kept as a means of furnishing their own breeding range bulls. This purebred herd is kept out on the flats to the North and east of Grapevine, where numerous small fields make it possible to keep records of the breeding history of each sire, and each cow. There seems to be evidence supporting a claim that these purebred animals have developed genetic traits that do not particularly help them to survive under adverse conditions. This, in conjunction with a steadily depleting range, will probably always assure condor food, providing the same practices are continued. The Tejon ranch is now commencing to use Mexican and Southern States cattle in order to fad off the back Country, to which the better bred natives, will not range out and utilize.