Field notes: Eastern United States return trip through Canada and Northwest United States, San Diego trip,1916, and second Eastern United States trip "via northwest", v4546

Grinnell, Joseph, 1877-1939

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Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley

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Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org

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697 J. Grinell, Museum Vert. Zoology, University of Calif., Berkeley, Calif.

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June 8, 1916 Canadian Pac. R.R. thru Saskatchewau Boundless level prairie; no stream-courses; slightly undulatory with shallow ponds in depression; five or six of these prairie ponds in sight at once; cultivable land mostly devoted to wheat; some with crop just coming up; some apparently missed this year. Occasional patches of willows and birch in depressions, but rare; farm buildings few, if any for miles. Prairie-dogs abundant. At daylight, and from then on, the songs of Western Meadowlark penetrated the train every few minutes. The birds sang from the fence posts as the train passed. Saw one pair of meadowlarks persistently attacking a prairie-dog as it ran them the grass paralleling the track. Saw a

114 June 8 - vicinity Regina pair of Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawks, at least 3 Marsh HAWKS, a Killdeer, and many ducks and some geese, the latter mostly at great distance on the ponds or nearly all in pairs. A few census (Mrs. J. Cheking) from Qu'Appelle, 8:45, to Regina 9:25, gave the following: Mallard 1; Cross 2 Black Tern 7; Red-winged Blackbird, Canvasback Duck 3; Killdeer 1; Eastern Kingbird 2; Canada Goose 1 unknown 14; W. Meadowlark 6; Pintail Duck 2; Horned Lark 1; Brewer Blackbird 13; Bank Swallow 6 Swainson Hawk 1; some wader 3. Total for 40 minutes 15 species, 106 individuals. From Moose Jaw west toward Swiftcurrent the elevation increases to over 2000 feet, the prairie

June 8, Moose Jaw to Swift Current/15 becomes more rolling, and the higher parts drier; there are still ponds in the depressions, two also well-marked water-courses. There is a quick change from grain- growing to cattle-nursing, and the whole country is a great pasture. A pencil census (Mrs. G. Checking), from Moose Jaw(11:20) to Mortlach 12:20, gave: Widgeon 3; Shoveller 2; Sanzuncuh Sparrows 3; Crow 12; Red-winged Blackbird 24; Eastern Kingbird 3; unknown small birds 5; unrecognized ducks 7; Western Meadowlark 6; Horned Lark 4; Brewer Blackbird 25; Bank Swallow 13; Swainson Hawk 2; Lark Bunting 4; English Sparrow 19; Tree Swallow 2; Mourning Dove 2; Cowbird 5; Long-billed Curlew 1. Total 17 species, and 152 individuals, in 1 hour.

116 June 8, vicinity Swift Current Conspicuous birds are the Lark Bunting, the jet black males of which show conspicuous white wing patches in flight. Its short tail and rapid wing-beat also serve to distinguish it from the Blackbird. Over a pond saw 3 Nighthawks and 4 Black Terns, and on a fence close to the railroad a McCown Longspur, with entirely black under surface, conspicuous streaks on sides of head, and streak back, white outer tail feathers. P.M. - Continuing over rolling plain of increasing elevation; many lakes but not a tree in sight for mile only short grass and low herbs. In sections put in to wheat, but mostly only original pasture. Course from Morse to Waldeck 2:05 to 2:45, gave birds as follows

June 8, toward Medicine Hat '17 Horned Lark 10; Red-wing Blackbird 8; unknown small birds 6; Lark Bunting 7; Western Meadowlark 7; Killdeer 2; Eastern Kingbird 4; Shoveller Duck 3; Blue-winged Teal 2; Pintail Duck 2; unrecognized ducks 12; Canvasback 2; yellow-headed Blackbird 11; Mudhen 7; Savannah Sparrows 4; McCown Songspar 2; Cliff Swallow 6; Willet 2; Franklin Gull 1; Brewer Blackbird 2; Bank Swallows 9; Crows 1. Total 20 species, 110 individuals, in 40 min. Census 3:20 to 4:20, out of Swift Current, showed: Horned Lark 8; Red-wing Blackbird 4; unknown small species 10; Lark Bunting 22; Western Meadowlark 10; Killdeer 1; Eastern Kingbird 6; Shoveller 4; unrecognized ducks 11; yellow-headed Blackbird 3; Crows 2; Savannah Sparrow 5; Brewer Blackbird 1; English Sparrow 8; Clay-colored Sparrows 2; Merch Hawk 3; Ring-billed Gull 3;

118 June 8, Towards Medicine Hat still in Saskatchewan Black Tern 1. Total 16 species, 10 individuals, in one hour. It is naturally much easier to take a train across open country than through forest. Here, one can see a long ways. A Lark Bunting descending from its song flight with characteristic slow flapping of wings presents an unmistakable silhouette a long ways across the prairie. 9 p.m. - Passed through Medicine Hat, Alberta, at 8 p.m. Limitless prairie is still the outlook, tho' at Medicine Hat was a branch of the Saskatchewan River, flowing rather swiftly in a narrow valley perhaps 100 feet below the general level, and with a riparian fringe of cottonwoods, birds and willows. Vista couler seen since yesterday.

June 9 Canadian Rockies 119 At 6:30 a.m. at Banff, heard Robins and Chipping Sparrows singing. Altitude 4520 feet. Canadian zone - spruces, aspens and birches. Snow down below timberline on both sides of the canyon. A little above Banff, towards Lake Louise, all deciduous growth gives out, just as it did up the mountain slopes at Banff. The whole floor of the valley is therefore covered with dense small growth of 2-leaft pines (P. contorta?). Possibly this is Hudsonian Zone, tho scattering timber goes at least 2000 feet higher up the adjacent slopes. 8:00 a.m., at station of Lake Louise, alt. 5030 feet: at least 8 Violet-green Swallows flitting about, and several Juncos heard in song. Cloudy and beginning to rain. Small willows are barely budding yet. 8:25 a.m. - Over the "Great Divide",

120 June 9, Canadian Rockies alt. 5200 feet. Lodgepole pines persist clear over, with some ji on a lake just west, saw three Harlequin Ducks and one Golden. The last and two of the first were males, and showed well their striking colors. At 8:00-8:20 (P.T.) at Field, 4060 ft. Heard several Robins singing; also Andalus Warblers. Deciduous growth, cottonwoods, etc, Canadian zone, came in again at about 4300 ft. Glaciers of blue ice on mountain above, and glacial work leveling up the canyon below. At Golden, saw several Western Robins and a flock of 12 Cranes in cultivated fields on the Columbia River bottom. 10:55 a.m. - At Beavermouth, having come along down the Columbia, which for the most part occupies a narrow gorge. Timber is heavy, country

June 9, thru Selkirks in British Columbia 1 Douglas fir, yellow cedar, cottonwoods and aspens. Herbaceous vegetation more abundant, reminding one of humid coast belt. Along Beaver Creek saw a Spotted Sandpiper. Raining thru Rogers Pass, 4300 ft., as also at Glacier, 4080 ft. At latter point heard or saw: Pileated Warbler 1; Pine Siskin 2; Townsend Solitaire 1. 3:20 - 3:40 p.m. - at Revelstoke, 1500ft. alitude, on Columbia River again. About a dozen English Sparrows, one Robin and 3 Pine Siskins. Mountains, snow-capt, in all directions. Only a little level land along Columbia River. Vegetation dense and green - aspen and cottonwood predominate on lower slopes and flood bottoms; cedar, white fir, Douglas spruce, and white (monticola?) pine on slopes.

122 June 9 - British Columbia 5:45 p.m. - At Sicamous. A w. before reaching here saw a comp. of Vaux Swifts high overhead; al a Spotted Sandpiper on the river and a Western Robin percht high o a dead tree. The heavily timbered mountains about her rise dire out of the lakes. Forest fires here apparently downed what the lumber men have left, but a thick new growth covers the slopes everywhere. 6:45 p.m. - At Salmon Arm, around farms saw: 5 Western Crows; 1 Sparrowhawk; 1 Northwestern Flye There is no sign, along this east-and-west route, of an arid plateau interior between Cascade and Rocky mts. & other works the Great Basin fauna pinches off somewhere.

June 9 - British Columbia 123 5 the south of here. Near Notch Hill saw fully 15 crows roosting in tops of dead trees. Later, along Thompson River, many yellow pines appeared, but no other evidences of aridity. June 10 6:15 a.m. - at Mission, on the Fraser River, which is the station for Sumas, one of Brooks' collecting stations. Here, and thence down to Vancouver, which we reached at a.m., the country is all the same - heavy coastal vegetation. At Mission, during 5 minutes stop, noted: Western Robin, 2 on lawn pulling myleworms, and others singing; Pine Siskin, at least two heard; Trail Flycatcher, one calling from willow clumps; Crow, 2 out in fields; Brewer Blackbird 2, in fields.

124 June 10 Vancouver Along the beaches up the inlet for Vancouver, were scores of Northamer Crows, scattered out foraging at edge of water. one or two in a place. In crossing by boat from Vanco- to Victoria, 10:00 - 2:30, noted following b: Glaucon-winged Gull 25; Herring Gull 5; misellaneous gulls at a distance, fully 50 some appearing in mid-channel; Northwest Crows, 8 or more, only near sho- tho one flew close to boat, paralleling for some minutes; Belted Kingfisher (1) perched on limberk bough above beach, Northwest Blue Heron, 1, flying along shore near Vancouver; Bald Eagle, 1 adult in flight nearby among islets near Vancouver Island; Red-throated Sora in flight close over surface of water. Brandt ? Cormorant, 67 scattered on over surface / water in one place. Pigeon Guillemot, 8, always in pairs.

June 10 - Victoria Went to the Provincial Museum at once, but found that both F. Kermodé and E. M. Anderson are way in the field. Was unable to get into whatever study collections there might be, tho everything I expected to see was on exhibition, mounted. Even birds' eggs, as well as types, were out in the light, and the aged and decrepit guard didn't know how to draw the blinds to keep the afternoon sunshine from striking the specimens directly. Practically saw # everything in sight was taken in British Columbia, so this is a notably local museum. There are some rather poor "habitat groups", as I Ursus Kermodéi, 5 of them, including the type, from Tribbet island, B.C. These are strikingly

126 June 10 - Victoria white-colored, or yellowish white, not bleach white as in U. emmonsii. The type of Ovis famuini Hornaday is a mounted on exhibit, and is evden but an intermediate specimen betw O. dalli & O. stenoi. There is a mounted Rangifer dawsoni from Queen Charlotte Islands; and 3 "Cervus Canadensis Canadensis", & F & calf, first and last from Vancouver Island the F from the mainland. These all impress me as very dark colored, especially on legs, head and neck, when almost bistre brown. Antlers of 5 are very heavy at base and deeply grooved lengthwise, into forking as follows: (inside)

June 10 - Victoria There are many mounted small animals, mostly taken by Brooks & Swanas, some of Hollister's taken at Moose Pass, and some by T.H. Keen of Massett. These have been made over from skins in a usual poor taxidermist style. Here is one specimen of "Marmota monax (Swain)", so labelled, in a case with some two marmots from the mainland. Of birds, there is a full synopti collection, valuable because of local representation. There are 3 Trumpeter Swans taken in B.C. in 1889, 1890 & 1912. A large collection of eggs and nests is on display, among which are 2 sets, 5 eggs each, 1 Bohemian Waxwing - eggs decidedly larger than the same pattern as Cedar Waxwing.

128 June 10 - Victoria also a display in some open top case. There is an extra large number of albino birds and mammals on display, a further evidence of the veneration in which these abnormalities are held. Two Mourning Doves from Vernon, B.C. does not look to me unusually dark in tone of coloration. Two specimens of "Geocidua geoma saurthi Grenfell", recorded, as so labelled. The door-yard bird of Victoria, now in full song, is the Nuttall's Sparrow - excepting, of course, the English Sparrows, which swarm in town. June 11 Spent the forenoon observing bird. Took "Uplands" car to suburbs of that name, and walked thence some

June 11 - Victoria Redboro Bay. At Uplands is a large area of natural oaks (Quercus garryana?), of good size and growing openly park-like. This is certainly a very distinct association, for beyond a valley begins dense woods of totally different appearance consisting of Douglas fir chiefly, with some hemlock, madrone and big-leaf maple. As elsewhere about Puget Sound, the forest goes down to high-tide limit, except where boggy meadows lead back from the heads of bays. Took pencil census from 10:30 to 11:30. All song birds seem now to be in full song, so easily spotted. Practically every bird noted is thus probably a pair, thus representing a pair. Species as follows: Violet-green Swallow 11, Northwest Crow 15, Western Chipping Sparrow 16,

130 June 11 - Victoria Northwest Flicker 2, Western Warbling Vio California Yellow Warbler 4, Western Robin Northwest Redwing 2, Nuttall Sparrow 11, Barn Swallows 8, Western House Wren 3, Lutescent Warbler 5, Western Flycatcher Western Meadowlark 3, Sparrow Hawk 1, Russet-backed Thrush 5, Cedar Waxwing 2, Cassin Vireo 1, Pine Siskin 3, Pacific Nighthawk 1, Glaucous-winged Gull Total for the one hour: 21 species, or 107 individuals. No young birds. this Nuttall Sparrows belonged as the young were about. Subsequently to census, heard Rusty Sny Sparrow, several more Pine Siskins and Reder. The abundance of Chipping Sparro and Violet-green Swallows is noteworthy. Took boat at 4:30 p.m. for Seattle, reaching latter point at 9:00. Wind calm beautiful weather ever since leaving Salmon Arm & J. Thompson River.

June 11 To Seattle Birds seen on Puget Sound: Brant (?) Cormorant (about 8); Hauens-winged Gull (about 25); Western Gull (three followed the boat for some distance, adults, “talking” solicitously row and then, as if nesting place were not far distant); Pigeon Guillemot (about 6); Red-throated Loon (1); Dark-bodied (?) Shearwaters (about 75 resting in usual scattered rows formation, down the Sound at least half-way to Seattle). June 12 Left for Portland, Oregon, at 11:15 p.m. Crost Columbia River at 6 a.m., where saw Crows. at S. J. Jewett’s – L. Alva Lewis is unreliable – should be expunged from C. O. C. Jewett coll. # 1100, 1101, Spotted Owl, both from coast

132 June 12 - Portland of Oregon, are mystically causing should be examined in relation of Pacific coast forms. Jewett has a large series of Sciurus w. kleamthenisis (in Oreg. 7-T-G. collection), topotypes, both winter & summer; secure for comparison with Sierran robbs. Also there are series of Gray Squirrels needful for comparison in settling the status of Sciurus leucourus? The Oregon 7 + G. Commission's collections are on deposit in Reed College, where I (12:00 noon) have just examined them. All study skins are subject to being sent out to schools & libraries where they are displayed in the light - then damaged - Therefore all specimens from here should be viewed with suspicion, if color characters are

June 12 - Portland concerned. The private collection, [illegible] Bohlman have also been used a great deal for display purposes, and this should be taken into account. Birds seen thru Sellwood, a suburb of Portland about 4 miles out, from Jewett's house, 582 Bidwell Ave., to Reed College, crossing a meadow, small lake, stream-side, and swampy place, thru Douglas fir woods: Willow Goldfinch, Violet-green Swallow, Savannah Sparrow, Rusty Song Sparrow, Traill Flycatcher, Russet-backed Thrush, California Crow, Northwestern Redwing, Western Yellowthroat, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Meadowlark, Song-Tailed Chat, Western Robin, California Yellow Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Cliff Swallows, Northwestern Flicker, Western Chipping Sparrow, Sparrow Hawk,

134 June 12 - Portland Western Warbling Vireo; Total 2 species in not more than 45 mins of observation. Birds impress as being very numerous. The day warm, even uncomfortable when walking in sun. Visited Wm. L. Finley in offices of Oregon Fish & Game Commission this afternoon. He says he will issue a permit for general collecting southern Oregon. He is fully convinced that Natural History and consideration for game laws can be best gotten to the people thru the movies. Finley says there are still some White-tailed Deer in south central Oregon west of the Cascades Jewett knows where they are. Antelope are increasing in eastern Oregon. Rowley really got his specimen over the Oregon line from Nevada.

June 12 - Portland not in the latter state as given out! The subject of predatory animals is discut, both I us agreeing that it is a biological crime for the U.S. Dept. Agric. to wage a war of extermination against such animals as wolves and cougars. To exterminate a species is unjustified on any grounds, and the economic value of both these animals, not to mention coyotes & bobcats, is worth counting far far alone. Then the check to jack Rabbits and Ground Squirrels is undoubtedly normally what keeps these rodents down. Removal of their enemies will result in the appearance of a new pest, to be eradicated than bigger appropriations. Finley declares that hunting lions

June 12 - Portland is the keenest sort of sport - worth much more than deer-hunting. The recreative phase of game-value of predators must be credited to them. A good case can be made against the "extermimate the predator" campaign June 13 Left Portland for California at 8:15 last evening. Daylight at Roseburg; a few miles above saw a ? American Merganser flying up a swift mountain creek close by the railroad, brown head and white on speculum showing plainly. 9:30 a.m. - At Gold Hill, Oregon: as train stoppt, heard several Robins a Word Fowler, and some English Sparrows. A large colony of Cliff Swallows on an old building near the station.

June 13 - Thur So. Oregon 137 The country along here is much drier than back at Portland & Vancouver Island. The grass is yellow, vegetation generally not as dense, the forest still covers everything; trees not so close growing. Seems to be almost typical Sierran Transition: yellow Pine, Incense Cedar, Douglas fir, Black Oak, Madrone, manzanitas, elder, elderberry, & eucythus (blue and white-flowered). This is certainly well east of the humid coast belt proper. Madford (10 a.m.) lies in a broad level valley, devoted to grain and farming. It seems to be low Transition. Here noted: Yellow Warbler, Sinneret, English Sparrow, Green-belt Goldfinch, Western Meadow-lark, & Lazuli Bunting.

138 June 13 - Southern Oregon In vicinity of Talent noted: Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Western Wood Pew, Calif. Yellow Warbler, Siskin. TOUR pencil census from Ashland 1890 ft. alt. (11:15) up over the SisKiy range, 4125 ft. alt. (12:30), as follows: English Sparrow 2; Western Meadowlark Western Robin 3; California Jay 2 Calif. Yellow Warbler 2; West. Warbling Vireo, Logelli Bunting 3; West. Chipping Sparrow. Sacramento Towhee 2; Sierra Junco 2 Black-headed Grosbeak 1; Blue-sided Hylocomium Green-tailed Towhee 1. Clear over the section the same flora continue no higher than Transition. The predominance of madrone and douglas fir would indicate a coast-belt infusion, but the general impression is of Sierra From vicinity of Hornbrook,

June 13 Deshjon Co., Calif. across California line, and Klamath River valley, there is a much more arid belt; much bare hillside, many junipers, stretches of low chaparral consisting chiefly of what looks like canthus cineratus; but flocroaks + yellow pines are still represented even on the hottest slopes, and on shaded slopes predominate. Grass is here all brown and the air hot and dry - nothing like it since we left Texas! Across Shasta Valley to Edgewood, alt. nearly 3000 ft. (3:25 p.m.). Here begins good Transition again. Shasta Valley is almost bare of trees; the level stretches are farmed or else are natural meadows when streams come from springs. The numerous little hills are either bare or with

140 June 13 - Past Mt. Shasta sparse growth of sage brush, occasionally juniper & ceanothus sunflowers. Certainly from Donburn to Edgewood is continuously upper Sonoran, this completely surrounded by Transition, a forest in spots. Canadian might be marked now by lower limit of snow, as its seems to fall about right on into Shasta and Eddy. Birds seen in Short's Valley: English Sparrows 4 (in town); Meadowlark & Calif. yellow Warbler 1; Crow 4; Linnet 3; Red-wing Blackbird, fully. Weed (4:00 p.m.) to Dunsmuir (5:45 p.m.) noted: Western Bluebird 2, Meadowlark Brown Blackbird 4, Violet-green Swallow. Continuously Transition zone, but not one madrone. Silver fir much in evidence, and above Six

June 13 Skunk cabbage. Deer brush conspicuously infested with tent-caterpillars. All big trees of forest lumbered off, but new growth plentiful. Digger pines began to come in above Kennett, but it got too dark to observe, definitely, the meeting place of Transition & Upper Sonoran. June 14, 1916 Crossing Port Costa ferry, 5:30 - 6:00 a.m., saw only one lone immature Ring billed Gull. Reached Berkeley 6:45 a.m. Home

142 August 5 - 1916 San Diego Trip Aug. 6 - 8 a.m.: Left Berkeley on Owl last evening. Now at Newha for Angeles Co. Coming down Soled Canyon have seen: Bluejay (elf), at least 6; Killdeer 1; Mourning Dove (at least 15 - plentiful). County looks fine, even the annual plants are yellows, save for blossoming composites (sunflower etc.). It occurs to me that a critical survey would be useful along the west side of Antelope Valley where the upper Santa juniper belt blends or runs into the Upper Sanoran digger pine belt. Correlation of zones could be determined. Camps: see "Aquatic Life" for article by Ruthling on water-dog On the "Wild Birds' area", 690 East Orange Grove Ave., Pasadena

Pasadena August 6 143 have seen (wild): Song Sparrow (adults in full song as well as young) ; Brewer Blackbird 4; Calif. Jay 2; Hooded Oriole 2; Linnet 8; Brunn Towhee 4; Yellow Warbler 2; Green-backed Goldfinch 3; Mockingbird 2; Calif. Thrasher 2. Summer=79/17 Evanhoe-San Jolla. Aug. 7-8 From Pasadena to San Jolla in L.H. Miller's Ford, stopping over night for trapping at a point on the San Diego Boulevard 1½ miles south of the station of San Orofres. (See Museum notebook for results.) Aug. 11 Get Edward N. Munns, Forest Service, Seven Oaks, via Redlands, Calif.-Write him for story of gopher migration. Also send him Bista, etc.

Aug. 12 Have excerpts made from "Asst. of Nat. Parks" article and submit to Sane or Matter or both; also to Senator - ----. Mr. Stephens says that on his labels, "Ballena", "Santa Isabel" "Witch Creek", in order named, were all pertinent to the same locality as far as his specimen are concerned. These were successively the nearest points to his ranch - 3 mi. W., 3 mi. and on adjoining ranch (Witch Creek respectively. Send Mrs. Stephens sample of loan receipt. Mrs. Ingersoll says Snow's "Yellow Rail" are likely to be Farallon Rail. Snow reports "egg & chick" taken this year with parent endors (letter June 6).

Aug. 12 three or more Mr. Ingersoll took sets of Western Grebe June 1, 1885, in Lake Merced, San Francisco Co. Inc. adv. Also Pied-billed Grebe in same place. I am examining both eggs. Mr. Ingersoll called on Belding in June 1916. Found him feeble but active-minded. Ought to be called on. Opp. City Hall, Stockton; on same street with Hotel Stockton; in old-fashioned brick bldg. with bay windows; now over cigar store. He has written a personal biography, which ought to be secured for "Condor." Write to Commissioner Fisheries, Washington, asking that he authorize the Naturalist on board "Albatross" to turn

Aug 12 on to M.V.Z. much species. I birds may be gathered incidentally during cruises of ships. Write Degersoll giving concisely MOM, for reviving his Will in favor of M.V.Z. Aug. 13 On trips from San Diego to Warner Spring, via Dulce and Campo, starting at 8:30 11a.m. - Held up by puncture 32 miles out, still short of Campo. Many evidences of last winter's floods along route; bridges out, debris slides on hillside uprooted sycamores, drift, etc. Just noted Least Violets in full song, + Brown Jovee. Further back Shrikes, Mourning Dove; Turkey Vulture, Wren tit.

Aug. 13 Proceeded clear down into the desert below Mountain Springs, to where cement highway crosses under San Diego & Arizona R.R., returning to camp for the night at the top of the grade at 3100 feet. Aug. 14. 1:30 p.m. - In Pine Valley, 4100 ft. alt., about 2 miles west of Laguna Mt. Valley edges with many Jeffrey and yellow pines, mixed; also many live oaks, manzanita, Pius tulebota, ose etc. Meadows with many Western Bluebirds, Violet-green Swallows, Brewer Blackbirds, Wood Pewee. Aug. 15 Returning to Berkeley. Put in Condor note: "Curtis Wright, Jr., has presented his egg-collection to the C.M.V.Z." Send Lawrence Trinity paper.

October 3, 1935 Left Berkeley 7:11 last event On way East via "north-west." 6:30 a.m. - At Klamath Falls, Oregon: country looks different from what I expected: high hills rise rather steeply all about, save to south toward "lake" - which I can't see. Altitude at Station: 4105 feet. Hills brown-yellow grassy, with scattering very small yellow pines and (Othir?) junipers. The Town surprisingly extensive, scatter up hillsides. Brewer Blackbirds around station; also California Gulls. Later: flock of 125+ gulls on foot-ball field near a school. Earlier: Wake up somewhere near McDoel, Calif. Terrain extensively level, but with massive hills rising abruptly from the plain; junipers and sage-brush seem to predominate. As we skirted west side of town "Lake" (no water) before sunrise, large flocks of birds continually going south overhead.

(Oct. 3) 7:00 a. m. — Out of Klamath Falls and north to Upper Klamath Lake (impounded behind hills and eastward lava flow); along east side of lake; tule beds only at south and north ends; hills otherwise rise steeply and clothed with yellow pines (only small ones left); to west and north, logging country; two or more mills on edges of lake, with great floating rafts of logs adjacent; besides tules, much willow along shores, and some cotton-woods. Bird-life is very enormously plentiful; open water as far as I can see, closely dotted with birds: mud-hens; ducks; western, pied-billed and eared geese; gulls (California and king-billed recognized); White Pelicans; along shore, as train passes close above: Muggie, Steller Jay (in willows); Belted King-fisher; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Blue Heron.

Oct. 3 North from Plowath Lake Rising slowly, along a consider river which empties into Cliff Plowath Lake; rather heavy, but not big, timber; old sawmills. Soon (8a.m.) get up onto great level plain (western margin of Great Basin). But stretches of timber almost pine lodgepole pine, as usual in small size; interspersed with grass-land; sheep! Cascade Mts. close to west, only a row of volcanoes no eastern "flank" or escarpment (as with Sierra Nevada). In other words, Great Basin plateau, here close to 5000 feet, simply broken off at axis of Cascade this axis marked by elevat. due only to line of volcanoes Very dry; no streams or lakes; musfall evaporates and sinks in.

Oct 3 9:05 a.m. -- at Crescent Lake, 4779 feet; a rolling country, mostly covered with lodgepole pine, tall and slender. Peak a ways, yellow pines on hillslopes -- highe[r than] lodgepoles; a matter of soil drainage perhaps. Here no signs of greater rainfall; have crossed some post-flowing streams; swales are grassy, with sand bordering herbage, now bright yellow. Aspens seen, and willows, browsed up sheep-high. 12 M., at Eugene. The eastern rise over the Cascades was very gradual, but the western slope steeper, with deep-cut canyons. Lodge-pole pines were restricted to the east side; replaced rather abruptly along by Lake Odell by firs, hemlocks and cedars. Lake Odell, deep, forest-girt, no marsh or borders: birds lacking; altitude 4800 +; probably little food as well as shelter such as certain

Oct. 3 waterfowl need. forest on west slope of Cascades; impressive heavy; tall straight trees; horsey covers all ground (save sheer basaltic cliffs). At mid-altitude much lumbering. In foothills clearings and perhaps originally Grassland; glassland in farms begin; old lumber mills. Farms in run- down conditions; crops meager. Old orchards as we approach Eugene. Sparrow Hawk with moax, seen; 2 Helleurs; close flack of Cedar Waxwings. 1:30.— North toward Portland from Eugene; stubble-fields, pasture, farm-yards, some orchards. See Killdear (2 companies of 6 to 8); Crows (individuals); Meadowlark; Red-tailed Hawk; Sparrow Hawk. Thickly wooded hills rise here and there from the broad valley floor.

Oct. 3 Arrived Portland at 3:15 and was met by Wm L. Finley who took us to the Congress Hotel; these took us across the street to the New Post Office Bldg., housing various Federal activities. There I met Stanley G. Jewett, just in from Malheur Lake where he is superintendent of the new waterfowl restoration project. After assemblies (arrangement for meeting tomorrow) I went back to my hotel. Oct. 4 At 401 U.S. Courthouse [or new P.O. Bldg.] with S.G. Jewett, looking at his collection. He tells me Bernard J. Bretherton (some of whose Oregon birds are in MVZ) died long ago – prior to 1902. His collection (save for birds sold) went into the possession of Charles E. Ladd; it went from Portland to Carlton, 35 or 40 mi. west of here, into the old Ladd farm house – which burned down. Thus the Bretherton collection, with its possible further records, is destroyed. As to Red-breasted Sapsuckers: Jewett has 6 from the Portland area; these are best or only part way

Portland - Oct. 4 intermediate toward ruber. Jewett says they breed around here - one permanently resident; these move migrant from B.C. this far south, anyhow. Regard to Oregon Jays: Jewett say distribution continues from Olympic Peninsula south to Northwestern Cal' also in Cascade Mountains extending south from leshington across Clark River, at river's level [!], clear Fort Klamath Falls. [Fort Klamath is 35 miles north of Klamath Fall from Chiloquin north, in Lodgepole belt, Jewett says

Portland - Oct. 4 An example of "rathbuni" from Crescent Lake, Wash., is identical with Obscurus from Venona, Columbia Co., Oregon. The only troublesome bird is Jewett's no.3009, f Nov.17,1923, from Drews Cr., Lake Co., Oregon (thus far east of Klamath and only about 30 mi. NW of the Warner Mt. near Fort Bidwell). This bird is browner than griseus, intermediate in fact; alone, I would call it obscurus. Possibly the Warner Mt. birds are of this cast. Another (no.3010) from same place, is very slightly grayer, hence more definitely griseus. Gray Titmouse: 2 skins (#7217,7218) from So.Warner Valley, from "same tract of jumpers" where type of Oberholser's new race came from. Compared with griseus at hand from Trinidad, Colo., show much longer bill, and grayer, ashier coloration all over. But plumage worn: May 19,1932. Jewett says Alex Walker, of Tillbrook, is thoroly sound, sincere; puts up good birds, good mammals. Only collector in Oregon Jewett would unqualifiedly recommend. But, little education - schooling. Works in cheese factory; salary probably less than $1500 per year. Brooks does not have many Lower Calif. birds, and he wants 'em! For example,

Portland - Oct. 4 Jewett has a beautiful series of Dryobates pubescens homores, fall-taken, from eastern Oregon. One of these (no. 5831, &; Home Creek, Harney Coct. 19, 1928) has no trace of black bar on outer pair of tail-feathers. All are brilliantly white, and white extends This is practically from the Steens Mountains. A new form! Jewett has certain rare birds wrapped in cellophane - saves them from sweaty hands! Excellent for use on birds that have been bug-eaten or broken. Adopt. To "glue" ends dissolve cellophane in acetone [or use zonolite which is like cellophan. 4:00 p.m. - At Jewett's house, in East Portland. Looking at Thomomys: There are 4 ougonus, from vicinity of Oregon City; a very rare animal; two in bulb gardens - burrowing like mo but with little or no wounding. A large series (20+) of douglasii, mostly from west of Portland. Tow the Cascades (on which mazama is the presumed form - lots here), only a few: Mollala R. (east of Oregon)

Portland - Oct. 4 Squaw Cr., 20 mi. W. Bend (east side) drainage; but I can't see external differences, in color or pelage between douglasii and mazama. Skulls here are not, cleared! These are in glass jars, dry; could be routed out if needed. Ten vigren are all black; no brown-colored gophers from the localities (around Mercer, Lane Co.) known to Jewett. He has seen about 22 individuals all told: no browns! They are scarce, because ground there is "all humped up" by voles (orarius and townsendii). Buy gophers from Alex Walker - of all races within reach; he would probably get them at 75c each. Elmer Griepentrog is young fellow; works in a tannery; honestly a bit dubious! Erratic - went to Hollywood & work in movies! Neotoma fuscipes: northernmost record: station = Mulino, Clackamas Co., only 30 mi. S and a little east of Portland; the skin on which this record is based is in Reed College; might be borrowed from Prof. Lawrence E. Griffith there. It has a skull. The only two here are from Gold Hill, Jackson Co., and look to me just like NW Calif. fuscipes.

Portland - Oct. 4 I understood Jewett to say his collection numbers 10,000 birds and 350 mammals. I was astonished at the extraordinary 'record' specimens included as well as at the total number. For 30 years he has watched out for good things, as well as quantity, using his opportunities under the Biol. Serv., travelling about, and contacts with game trappers and hunters, to get good things. For example, I saw 8 Oregon Caithm. Peale Falcons, big series of Rough-legs, a long series of Sora (Owl), representing Brewsteri (seems to be a good form), Kennerdite, and noefarlanii (from eastern Oregon), great numbers of shore-birds (for example, fully 40 surf birds!). Jewett several times remarked on the unsafety of his collections. All are in wooden cases worn through the years by himself; and bugs show themselves every so often with some resulting damage. Part of the cases are in an upstairs room at his home in East Portland, part in his cement-walled basement, the rest part in the Biol. Serv. office rooms in the Federal Bldg. Now that Jewett is stationed at Malheur, Mr. W. R. Bush, Predatory Animal and Rodent Control

"[illegible]" under the B.S., is left responsible for visitors who may wish to see this part of the collections. I did not see Finley again, as was understood yesterday. Jewett says Finley is rather "woody", often growlhy. He pretends to be poverty-stricken; but has recently inherited considerable fortune (interest in a successful undertaking concern) from his father; has no salaried position under either State or Federal Govt.; is a free-lance in all respects; hobby now conservation - in opposition to State Fish and Game Commission policies, and supporting the B. S. Oct. 5 8:35 a.m. - Out of Portland for Seattle. Down north side of Columbia River to Kelso, Wash.; broad bottomlands, pastures, vast tracts of willow and cottonwood; Crows abundant. "Islands" cut off by division of the river. One of these = Sanvics Island, where is said to be northernmost representation of California Jay. Another, opposite Vancouver [= Fort Vancouver] in "Gov. [illegible] ment Island", on which horses and mules were kept.

Oct. 5 12:30. - At extreme southern end of Puget Sound, where the RR skirts the water, passed a place, Steilacoom. This old Fort Steilacoom, Wash., where Cores and Suckley collected. Certain bird types come from there. We were surprie[?] to see many madrone trees in that vicinity, now planted, along with the dominant Douglas spruce. Reading Seattle at 2:20 we were met by Dr. Robert C. Miller, one-time student of mine and now professor at Univ. of Wash. Putting up at the New Washington Hotel, he then took us out to the U. of W. campus, showing us the new building[s]: —fine library, science bldy., etc. Formerly Trevor Kincaid in his laboratory, work[?] on ecological survey (of plankton chiefly) of fresh-waters of Washington State and the Pacific district generally. He is especially concerned with Copepod and Cladocera; says that every lake (and there are hundreds) has a separately recognizable race or population, betokening potency of isolation. He believes the characters are heritable. Says he can look at any plankton sample and tell

Seattle, Oct. 5 what lake or pond it came from! Then Dr. Miller took us down to the hydrographic or ocean- graphic station, Rockefeller-money-built, on the edge of Lake Union, which is close on the edge of the campus. Lake Union is fresh-water, but it's connected with the Sound by a canal and locks, "next to the biggest in the world" so that even a battleship can enter Lake Union. Here is docked the "Catalyst," a sea-going scientific-equipped boat, 75 feet long, $45,000 (Rockefeller money). The adjacent laboratory building seems to me far and away better equipped than either the La Jolla or Pacific Groove marine stations. Yet we hear far less about it than about the La Jolla station! On the boat, we were duly amazed by the latest gadgets - a sounding apparatus, an "electric cell" auto-steering device, etc. Then Miller took us by auto out past

Seattle, Oct. 5 Left Washington, to some area of wild land he has bought, some 14 miles from the University. Then he took up to Hotel Meany for dinner, where with Frank S. Hall, editor of the "Murrelet" we spent a very pleasant evening. Hall was let out of the Museum job he held for 22 years, and is now a free-lance -- till he can locate another post. Meanwhile, he is editing, and working up biographies of early western naturalists and explorers, Nuttall, Townsend, Cooper, et al. Hall thinks he sees an opening for a museum in Spokane. Oct 6 Left Seattle on 9 am Canadian Pacific boat for Victoria. The Sun is perfectly smooth; sky, as usual, overcast; but no rain -- scarce more than a sprinkle (in Portland since we left home). Air must be as if forest fires somewhere; fairly cool. Gulls follow boat to number of 1 to 2 hundred -- most in adult plumage (with mottled necks). I think I recognize California*, Ring-billed, Short-billed and

Porter Sound, Oct. 6 Hornessed-winged [starred ones dubious]. Strait of Juan de Fuca, glassy smooth; haze obscured any view of land. Crossing, saw large numbers of Murres, Murrelets; gulls mostly had lefts; several groups of Scoters, those seen closely all White- winged: one scattering flotilla of Western Grebes close by. Reached Victoria at 1.30 and put up at the Strathcona Hotel - ancient! At once started out for a walk - the day nearly and warm enuf to start perspiration. Went to the Parliament Bldgs., briefly saw the Provincial Museum (open to the public on Sunday, but no official there, save for a watchman); then out thru Beacon Hill Park. Noted wild birds as follows: Crow (caurinus?), fully 25, on lawns of gov't bldgs., in yards of dwelling houses, and in gutters along streets - very "tame" until we stopped and looked directly at 'em! Robin, squads of 11, 9, 7, and many odd ones,

Victoria, B.C., Oct. 6 perhaps 50 all told; some in snowbed thickets, some flying overhead, some perched in trees; only winter flight calls heard; thus causing rare still counts on Vancouver I.D. Meadowlark, one in full song from near top of spruce overlooking grassland. Song Sparrow at least 5, in thickets of brome and in vegetation margining ponds in Park. Audubon Warbler, one in maples, in grounds back of Empress Hotel. English Sparrow (a few only in last named locality). Flicker, at least around Park. Oct. 7 Ursus Kermodei, ♀, alive, in Bearsm Hill Park; 11/8 years old; eyes pale brown, lighter than even cinnamon bear; muzzle dark brown; fore claws, pinkish brown; coat white with pinkish buff deeply located suffusion. Only one known in captivity; from Prince Royal I.D., adjacent to Gribble I.D. 1:30 p.m. - At Provincial Mus. with Dan Corvan: Just saw, mounted, a Wolverine taken on Vancouver I.D. - don't know a mus race, being worked up by Corvan. The type of Vireo huttoni insularis Rhoads

is here - in fact both of those referred as "types" by Rhoads (Auk, V, 1893, p. 239). The first one mentioned, the male, is mounted; as Director Kerwood goes to take it down, for better permanent preservation. The two birds, one a skin, the other wounded, were both prepared (Kerwood tells me) by him from the fresh specimens brought in by A.H. Myrnad (just recently deceased). Cowan has just collected (Sept 8, 1935) two additional specimens, and there is a 5% example here. All are notably dark dorsal coloration. The type, mounted thus, since 1891 (for 44 years!) is somewhat faded. Agelaius ph. cassinia: this is type locality; "Cedar Hill" is now Mount Douglas Park, about 5 miles due north of the center of Victoria. Specimens from here have extremely slender bills, and ♀♀ with rich chestnut brown on back. It seems unlikely that Californian cassinia" are the same! Humboldt Bay birds need comparison with Victoria birds. Sphyrapicus ruber: breed in Victoria and also winter here. Cowan thinks more in winter than in summer at lower levels both on mainland of B.C. and Vancouver I'd. Movement there, he thinks, is a matter of altitude rather than latitude.

Victoria, Oct. 7 5:00 p.m. - Just had a visit at our hotel from Capt. G. D. Sprot and Mr. Newcomb. The latter was once connected with the Provincial Museum, but fell out with Kermode and is now, I gather, a free-lance. Sprot confirmed what Cowan said about Red-breasted Sapsuckers: that they are resident in this southern part of Vancouver Island; do not leave the island in winter. This is not new to me surprising when I learn that there is rarely any snow here all winter, and the average annual precipitation is only some 26 inches. The humid coast belt lies but a short distance west of here. Mr Sprot very generously offered to get for MVZ any specially desired birds, such as: Red-winged Blackbird, Marsh Wrens, Sapsuckers, Savannah Sparrows [brooksi, which is resident here - the other races migrating there], Hutton Vireos. Oct. 8 9:30 a.m. - With Kermode, Sprot, Kermode, Jr., Cowan and Mrs. G.

adjacent to Normal School; on old Lansdowne flying field, a hayfield, about 15 acres, with ploughed stubble adjacent; fully 40 Skylarks, scattering; much flying cloft, in 3's or pairs, pursuing one another; other notes reminding me most of the Twittering of tree-swallows. Some go for up and circle, then dive down or set wings; but only incomplete song now, Kernode says, as compared with full effort in spring. As a bird rises, it shows white outer tail feathers, and its flight reminds me of horned lark, but still there is a difference. A group, strong along, of 15 by count gets up from ploughed stubble. I walk to about 50 feet of one bird; keeps back (sandy-colored) toward me; bird more fidgety than horned lark under same circumstances. Song at times reminds me of bubbling of purple martins. Mr. Sprot estimates total of 30 to 40 on this one field -- perhaps 200 in general regions; still on increase. Sun comes out warmly and up the skylarks go, with a profusion of throaty twitterings. Other birds heard or seen on this field were: Savannah Sparrows (3 or more

Victoria, Oct. 8 flashed); Crow (many in sight or hearing all the time); Robin (two in field, and others in poplars, some singing rather fully); Killdeer (1+ on field). Then Mr. Kermode motored us up to the summit of Mt. Tolmie - named for Dr. John Tolmie, of the Hudson Bay Co., stationed for a time (about 1835) at Fort Vancouver, and for whom Townsend was the Tolmie Warbler. The top of the "mount" is exposed hard rock, deeply glacier scored from the north; its sides are clothed with tany oaks and extensive thickets of broom. Then we went out to Kermode's home in country extensively grown to vegetables: Crows in scores; Oregon Spotted Towhees along roadside hedges; Seattle Bewick Wren in a berry patch; and Meadowlarks singing in cultivate fields. Then out to a Sound-side lookout whence on the water toward San Juan Islands, we saw nearby roofs of Scoters, some Scaups, Western Grebes, and more distant waterbirds in considerable numbers Went near the base of "Cedar Hill"

(now Mt. Douglas) night past where the type of Agelaius, ph. courinus was taken, once marshy, now dry, tho there are willows along a water course. Then back to the Provincial Museum, where I saw the types of Ovis famini (mounted), a saddle-marked intergrade between the Dull Sheep and the Rocky Mountain Sheep, and Rangifer dawsoni, from Queen Charlotte Islands (Kermod says he believes this caribou to be now extinct). The mounted male is small, and whitish in color; this is not the type, however, which latter is one antler attached to a part-cranium. 2 to 6:45 p.m. — Crossed from Victoria to Vancouver, B.C. Smooth, but dull and scenery, except close by. Obscured. Many Murres (immature) along the passage- way among the islands. Gulls included Glaucous-winged, Ring-billed, and a small species seemingly size of latter, but with more amount I black at tip and along front border I spread wing. White-winged Scoters abundant.

Vancouver, Oct. 9. At Kenneth Racy's, looking at birds. Robin: here winter and summer, but fewer in winter. Ten from Vancouver I.D. and vicinity of Vancouver are all good aurora- short wing, brown or very dark dorsum; 5 from Oregon and Kamloops are larger and paler. No mid-winter birds here. Buton Vires: 7 from around here and from U.S. all very dark - good insularis, even from mainland! Red-winged Blackbird: Both winter and breeding bir from around here, and north of Fraser River, are extra caurins, like Victoria birds. Again, Californi

Vancouver, Oct. 9 must be 5000 anyway. The water-birds are in excellent shape; the ducks floatish, with head on side, à la Brooks. I gather that the Racey's have been fairly well-to-do, but are now fallen on hard times. There are two boys in the family, one in school, the other, about 21, working on a

Vancouver, Oct. 9 In one of the latter are the Zoology offices and "laboratories." Dr. J. McLean Fraser was very pleasant, as also a Dr. Spencer. I did not see Miss Gertrude Smith, formerly at U.C., now an Assistant Professor here. The laboratories are large and well-lighted, but the equipment is meager. A bit of gossip I was told was that, down at the University of Washington in Seattle, every professor had been notified (unofficially but nevertheless emphatically) that he must publish at least 2 scientific or professional papers per year — this to maintain the research standing of the university. At Point Gray Beach, we stopped to see 10 or 15 Northwest Crows foraging lawely about the picnic grounds close to the sandy shore. Elsewhere along the route saw fully 25 Robins (of course caurinus) in flight over the suburban territory. There happened to be going west; there are stretches of both deciduous and evergreen woods at toward Point Grey. Saw a Rusty Fly Sparrow at the road-side.

Vancouver, Oct. 10 This forenoon went to see Mr. R.A. Cumming, his collection, and the Chinese Starlings that he had written were to be seen in his neighborhood. This was about 5 miles south of the city, near end of the Fraser St. car-line; 610 E. 64th Avenue; and nearly to the flood-bottom of the Fraser River, a distributary of which was in sight. This is rural, scattering houses, vegetable gardens, and extensive tracts or thickets of native deciduous vegetation. The Starlings, or Chinese Mynahs, constituted the feature of the morning. Mrs. G. and I counted 27 in sight at one moment, partly on the ground [a pasture] around a cow, partly on a fence, and part in bushes. Mr. Cumming thought there might be 50 or 60 in the near vicinity; but they move about, visiting a nearby "abattoir" for grain and meat scraps. Now they are feeding mostly on wild berries; we saw them eat red cherries and berries of the "white dogwood." Cumming estimates that there are 5 or 6 thousand in the region of Vancouver, and that they have reached the

Vancouver, Oct. 10 limits of subsistence, this comprised chiefly in available resting-sites. A relatively few birds can at times make a lot of noise, and so their numbers be over-estimated. At one time there were some south of the Fraser a ways, but their range in this direction has contracted. To repeat the species is just about holding its own, and no more — in Mr. Cumming's opinion. The birds we saw were giving a medley of calls, mostly low-pitched and full, like the burbling voices of purple martins; when alarmed, certain birds gave a jay-like, harsh call; there were also some high-pitched whistle-like calls. In general form of body the Mynah recalls a meadowlark — heavy body, short tail, heavy, clumsy flight. The large white patch in each spread wing is very conspicuous as a bird flies. The crest on the fore part of the head of an adult (the young now lack this) gives a curious thick-headed appearance — truncate anteriorly.

Vancouver, Oct. 10 I gather that Scheffer got a good deal of the material for the Scheffer-Cottam paper from Cramming, or at least in the neighborhood which the latter has made known in this connection. Other birds we saw in the vicinity were: Robin, a good many berry-feeding on hawthorne, dogwood, grapes, mulberry, etc.; Song Sparrow, many heard and some seen; Killdeer, 1; English Sparrows, numerous. Cramming lives meagerly, as this now pretty close to the edge of poverty; moreover his health is poor – cancer, botulism, hinted at by his wife in conversation with Mrs. Y. Even so, he is, to me, rather attractively enthusiastic concerning birds, mammals, and the plants in his garden. He is raising various duck-foods experimentally. He talks as if rather oblivious of anything commercial. This may account for his reputation as thriftless. But his education is obviously not extensive; and limitations of his reading in the general vertebrate field are apparent. He has rather positive ideas concerning subspecies, on the basis little opportunity to compare extensive series, or to read what others have published. His remarks show

Vancouver, Oct. 10 him to be rather expensive toward Allan Brooks, as regards identification. its letter has made of certain birds of his. Cummings' collection, housed in a few wooden cases in a room of his scantily furnished wooden house, numbered just 2000 birds and mammals. He has given away (as to MVZ) and sold lots of birds. I got that Dr. L.B. Bishops had bought 1 him. Cummings' skins are quite well made, tho not averaging as good as Racey's. He is keen to discover "new races", and has the idea that many undescribed forms are yet to be found on various islands— Bowen, Vancouver, Lucy, Queen Charlotte, etc. He has been on all of these and has some interesting things from them, tho he has disposed perhaps of the best. He is anxious & go again — knows now better where to hunt. It might be a good investment for MVZ to buy special things from him — send him places by advance purchase. Incidentally, Cummings intimated that Darcus' "egg" of the Mabled Murres...

Vancouver, Oct. 10 from Queen Charlottes is "phony"; said egg a selected Ancient Murelet. Indians told him (Cumming) so. To latter's best knowledge, no M.M.'s egg has ever yet been found. No doubt Cumming is relatively ignorant, but I saw no evidence of dishonesty. He may nevertheless be irritating to certain of his fellow-Canadians in the natural history field. Oct. 11 Left our nice Hotel George's last evening and took to the C.P. train. Had begun to rain. 7:30 a.m.— At Kamloops; clear, brilliant sunshine. Thompson River in broad, farmed valley with steep sides up to timbered mountain tops; at least 4 conspicuous river-terraces along south side of valley. Evidently dry here; what looks like sage-brush on slopes above first-bottom; scattering yellow-pines on slopes; much open ground on slopes, sparsely grassy, shows effects of long grazing; cottonwoods and willows along river, which is here slow-flowing. Farther along, toward Shuswap, aspens and Douglas spruces began to come in. Saw ducks on river, and crows in groups

Oct. 11 - to Sicamous on the bottomland farms. 9:15 a.m. - Over a "hill", 1700 ft. alt., at Nettle-Hill ; cuts off a curve in Shuswap lake, which has 600 miles of coast line; Salmon Arm = one division - a drowned" valley-system. Here much more rainfall: woods of Douglas spruce, red cedar, mixed everywhere with open now brilliantly yellow, all over the mountain slopes. Just saw, in alfalfa field, 30+ Brewer Blackbirds, 10+ crows; at stations, 12+ English Sparrows. 10:00 - At Salmon Arm, two Magpies on lake-side pasture land. Duck-bills out in shallow water, and ducks and geese in sight on the water. Then: Golden Eagle (1) in flight above forest edge; young Common Loon and Western Gull, water; and raft of ducks far out. 11:40 - At Enderby, on branch line south for Sicamous to Vernon. RR trames along level route between mountains; valley more or less broad, occupied by series of lakes and intervening tracts of farmland evidently reclaimed from heavily timbered bottomlands. Here is Shuswap River, flowing north to last lake passed - Fraser River drainage. Uncut timber in lowlands: Douglas spruce predominant, some yellow pines, hemlock, much birch; along edge of mine, aspen, cottonwood, willows, with heavy undergrowth.

Oct. 11, toward Vernon 12 M. - At Armstrong, 5 English Sparrow under aves of a station bldg.; bottomlands rich; big harvests of potatoes, lettuce, cabbage; alfalfa and hay-fields, many cows. 2:30.- In Allan Brooks' "museum" at his home at Okanagan Landing, right on the very shore of Okanagan Lake. Allen Moser, North Head, Grand Manan, New Brunswick: puts up elegant bird- skins. Some here, of water birds; got North Atlantic species need to MVZ. Brooks says he is hard up now, and would be glad of a commission. Brooks does not have many Lower California birds, and he wants 'em! For example, Xantus Hummingbird, send him duplicate stuff, anyway! Cape Pigeon. Brooks has an example of Parua solatari (no. 2787) from Paradise, Calif., that has a good indication of both side-stripes on head - suggestive of gambeli; therefore solatari falls in with the gambeli rossenkreis! But bill is more of carolinensis type. Look ups! Send Brooks atratus. Oct. 12 I have just been looking at Simmodornus: Brooks' material makes a good case for hendersoni, as different from griseus - in baser wing length by 1/2-inch, paler dorsal effect, with a longitudinal pattern reminded

Okanogan Landing, Oct. 12 of a Wilson Snipe. Brooks say Nelson's St. Michael breeding birds are Henderson breeding ground of Scolopaxea (Brooks think full species) and of griseus, unknown! Have just looked at Sooty Grouse. Brooks points out, and his material shows that the terminal light (gray) tail band is white constant and pale in Colorado birds, toward the north become variable - Tending to blacken out in richardsonii. Flemmingi he considers as extremely dubious of recognition. Series from around Okanagan includes black-ringed and black-berked as well as pale birds, the latter like Wyoming ones. "Swath and Tannmer have muddled things up terribly." Get "rubber mouse" (made in Japan for squeaking rps birds. A larger kind, squeals like a rabbit - calls up owls For class use - pick in a 5-cent store Brooks says the call of a small brings up any larger owl. This paying owl "tooting" brings up screech owl; latter bring up spotted owl or horned owl. The bigger owls prey upon the smaller ones - owls "control" owls of smaller caliber. In Brooks' view an abundance of horned owls spells scarcity of smaller owl and hawks too, especially when small mammals happen to be at low ebb.

Okanogan Logging, Oct. 12 2:30 p.m. - Brooks says Pigeon Owls show erectile "horns", on provocation; he has a skin so adjusted. Look for this in live birds! In New Mexico all Swainson Hawks are light, white-bellied; the melanic birds from the north come south in Sept., to be called, locally, "eagle hawks". Brooks this type is what Lee Chambers called "Harris Hawk", recorded as in flocks, from Imperial Valley. Check him! Harris Hawks don't go in flocks! In Swainson Hawks, which nest here commonly, always 2 eggs, 2 young; but one young eats the other, so only one grows to maturity, probably the one that hatched first! Goshawks: Brooks' material shows definitely that "striatulus" characters (bird-bearing) are second-year birds; always some juvenile feathers carry over and can be found. The finely, narrowly, marked adults are striicapillus. Therefore no subspecies. Brooks and I together looked over Teal, and both decided we could find no good character in ?♀ or young ♂♂ (until molt begins in the latter), as between Blue-winged and Cinnamon.

Okanagan Landing, Oct. 12 6:00 p.m. - Leaving Vernon for Sicamous after visit with Mr. and Mrs. Brooks since arriving yesterday at one o'clock. Very nicely entertained, but Brooks indefatigable in showing me his bird collection - profitable to me without question, and doubtless will be to MVZ, but giving me no chance to see things out-of-door. Brooks' home wonderfully located right at the edge of Okanagan Lake, in riparian belt of cottonwoods and Willows. Living birds I saw at odd moments were: Black-capped Chickadee, 6 came close about at one moment in response to Brooks' "pigeon owl call"; Robin, several about; Black headed Jay, 2 seen close by; Junco, flock thru willows; Huckle one; Common Loon, 2 out on lake; Horned Grebe, one, close in. Brooks is not on good terms with J. A. Munro. Finally, at Mrs. Brooks instance, I talked with Munro briefly over the phone. He is going on to the Toronto meeting late. Munro is said to be "difficult" - so suspicious of his neighbors - as provincial game warden is not a success.

Okanogan Landing, Oct. 12 Brooks' collection is housed safely in a court museum building quite apart from his living house. The cases are well-made wooden ones. I guess there are about 7000 birds, the great majority of which have been collected by Brooks himself. He does not aim for series, but full plumage and age representation of each species of North American bird. Young young, and "first plumages" of many rare species have been especially gone after. Brooks is very cordial toward MVZ; says repeatedly that, if there be anything he can get that we want, to say what it is; if within reach of him he'll get it. Oct. 13 Got into Sicamous at 8 last evening and spent the day (Sunday) here, stopping at the C.P.R.R. Hotel Sicamous; customs to us quaint! Did writing most of the day; but out for a walk before lunch and again late this afternoon. Took a path up the steep hillside above the station to the "transcontinental highway" which shows little traffic - lines of weeds

Sicamous, Oct. 13 in middle of the one set of wheel ties on that section west of here. The route from the east turning south up the Sicamous River is better travelled. The railroad follows along the shore within a few feet of lake level. The woods up the mountain side are thick but of small stature – no trees more than 50 feet high, I should say. They consist of Douglas spruce, red cedar, birch, alder, cottonwood, with an under growth of huckleberry, snowberry and other plants that I do not know. Well. Vis. 9. Kept pencil census from 11:45 to 1:05 along the “highway.” Checked Herring Gull (7 on sand bar at mouth of Sicamous River, and 2 were in flight out over water); Crow (6, along shore); Canada Nuttall (3, in spruces); Juncos (17, in 3 groups – black heads, sepia backs and brown sides – shufeldti?); Winter Wren (3, in root tangles along uphill side of road cut); Flicker (2, red-shafted); Loon (1, out on lake); Black-capped Chickadee (11 counted out of one company scattered thru cottonwoods and spruces); Bubo boreas (one huge ♀ washed on roadway); Hyla regilla (a pale

green, large are, freshly washed on road, and also heard); Chickaree (2 heard and seen, up spruce and crossing road - sound not at all like our Sierra race). This evening in a walk east across the Seymour's Rim railway bridge, heard at least 3 Hyloes. Rained last night, and coming on to rain now (5:30 p.m.), not cold, though snowing on upper mountain slopes, perhaps 2,500 ft. higher up. Saw a flock of 12+ small birds in flight overhead - might have been Chickarees; also one Black-headed Jay in cottonwoods of river bottom. Heard another Chickaree. Oct. 14 Off east at 7:20 for Banff. An "open" observation car - scenery great; woods mixed yellow and red deciduous trees and dark green conifers. 9:15 a.m. - At Revelstoke: first bird seen, one Lone Robin, flying on meadow bordering woods. Cloudy, raining gently. Peaks not to be seen. Red cedars disappeared over the Selkirks divide. Lodgepoles come in. Much evidence of snow-slides last winter; brakeman says more slides

To Banff, Oct. 14 Last January then since 1910. At Ottertail (below) many moose tracks or sandbars of river, and the we saw one moose. Broad bottoms grown to thick cutworms novel of spruces and birch and aspen. 2:50 p.m. – Out of field – climbing stream milky-blue, distributed over a broad glacial wash-plain. 7:00 p.m. – Got into Banff at 6, and repaired to the King Edward Hotel, in which we are installed. Saw nothing of the higher Rockies; it was snowing as we came over the Great Divide (5332 ft. alt.); but latter snow was yet lying at so low level. But the clouds hung low. On a lake at the top of the Knickerbocker Horse Grade, we saw 127 ducks (looked like eoters); there were the only birds seen since Revelstoke. As we approached Banff we saw a good many elk, some close by the tracks showing little or no interest in the train. We are astonished at the small stature of the trees on this side of the Divide – very small lody-poles (apparently) in close stand.

Banff, Oct. 15 The first two birds I saw, from the hotel window at 7:00 a.m., were Clark Nutcrackers! One flew over the business district; the other was foraging in a back alley. From 10 to 12 we were driven by autos to points of interest close about Banff, and up the road toward Lake Louise, to 11 miles from Banff. We watched especially for animals at large. Of these we saw only: Coyote (one fluffy light gray fellow off in the aspens, continually watching us shyly); Elk (2, grazing on slope of mountain 200 yards above us); Chickadee (2 in spruces, chatting loudly); Chipmunk (2 in roadside trees, or ground in thickety undergrowth); Magpie (8+); Clarkedee (8+); English Sparrows (20+, only in town); Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Pintail, and doubtless several other kinds of ducks (fully 75, scattering over grassy parts of two lakes up the valley). We saw much beaver sign close to the highway: very large, mud-plastered houses (up to 8 feet high above water level); dams, not more than 2 feet high.

Barff, Oct. 15 but long and winding in a willow grum swale; lots of cut aspen stumps, and some trees up to 8 inches diameter, partly cut; a dragway on upper side of road to aspen tracts 100 to 200 yards ups the lower mountain slope, where were freshly cut stumps. Then the beaver regularly at night cross the highway back and forth. The driver said there is little fast driving, and he knew of no beaver being hit by an auto, tho elk are killed on the railroad sometimes. At the enclosed "buffalo park" we saw some 2 & head of allegedly pure bred buffalo (a very small calf as well as third-grown ones); 33 ELK; 4 mountain goats, and 4 Rocky Mountain Sheep -- all those allegedly trapped (except buffalo) in the near vicinity. We saw a pole- work trap for sheep, 6 or 8 miles ups the road at the base of a precipitous mountain, mostly of rock surface. There is evidence of excessive browsing within fences, but not outside.

Bauff, Oct. 15 This afternoon, visited the Zoo and the Museum of the Banff National Park. The latter was nothing much -- only the usual stuffed animals in glass cases. One thing commendable: only the kinds of birds and mammals in this park are there, so far as I could see. In the Zoo, some of these were shown, but also Polar Bears! There four wolves, two of them huge fellows, poing rapidly back and forth with distant-seeing eyes. They reminded me accurately of Eskimo

Banff, Oct. 15 all the conventional grizzly features. I was especially struck with height of configuration at shoulders - a veritable wave there, locking in the adjacent black and cinnamon bears. The grizzly's long front claws were very light colored - yellowish white. The Martens were out, active. Two of them, in adjacent pens, were trying to get at each other, screeching and biting at each other thru the wires. They are exceedingly quick in their movements. Two Magpies were in a cage; two foraging around outside! Later, we saw two more Nutcracker about town - still "camp"-robbers! Oct 16 In Saskatchewan: (Out of Moosejaw) about 8 a.m. In station, a dozen or so English Sparrows; on a cooler a bit east, some ducks including Mallards, and some Coots. Then almost continuous Wheat fields until well east of Regina. 10:40 a. at Indian Head: a rolling glaciated country; lots of water-worn boulders; no drainage; waterless; swales grown & jingles of small birch, willow, and margining cherry (?). Irregular-shaped

Oct. 16: toward Winnipeg strips of higher ground ploughed for wheat - full plant was sown; has recently rained; now cloudy, with cold northwest wind, but not freezing, and no snow in sight. Condition of farm horses to here, miserable; many deserted. Four Mergansers here; back a ways, a Magpie, and many magpie nests, in little bird or cottonwood trees. 11 & 45 - along by Wolsley. Back a ways was first prairie pond - about 12 Mallards on it. Saw 3 other ducks and 2 Buteos in flight toward south. This is north of North Dakota - same type of landscape. Crossed just one definite watercourse, at this time; a little, almost still, water in it. Extensive wheat here; strawstacks with little, steep-roofed grain sheds by each of them; 2 or 3 strawstacks burning; but no general burning yet. Ranch houses look in better repair here, and there are now cattle in sight; 12 cows. 1 p.m. (Central Time); Broadview: the prairie relieved by plantings of trees (cottonwood chiefly) around farms and towns. Now and then a watercourse, dry; 2 or 3 prairie ponds seen; 2 ducks on one of them. A Marsh Hawk drifted over a swale; a cloud of ( Brewer? ) Blackbirds in a farmyard, and 3 individuals at swale; 5 black-capped Chickadees in leafless cottonwoods at station grounds.

Oct. 16, toward Winnipeg In Manitoba: Brandon, at 4 p.m. I guess we're crossed the 100th Meridian; there is more evidence of moisture. Here is quite a river valley, tho as yet I've seen no flowing stream. There are prairie ponds, and the "prairie" is more cut up by tracts of stunted trees and brush - "muskegs" maybe they are. The station grounds here have chattering throngs of English Sparrows. Back a ways, in ploughed ground or stubble, I saw at least 3 throngs of what looked like Horned Larks. Gopher (?) workings seen. Out of Brandon a few minutes, saw in flight, a Marsh Hawk and a Bittern; the latter flushed from a roadside pond where there were dead rushes. All vegetation is brown and dead-looking; the trees all leafless. Prairie grass on cultivated ground, strikingly tall and thick. At 4:50, all of a sudden, there came in some kind of spruce in scattering formation with sandy oak-like trees in the little ridges, and "muskegs" in the low places. The topography is uneven - draining and kettle-holes - very little of it cultivated. Oct. 17 10 a.m. - Into Ontario in the night; now at Winnipeg, at head of a northern arm

Oct. 17, in Ontario Lake Superior. An immature (Herring?) Bull in a paper-log raft out in the water. Woods are chiefly spruce and birch, a kind of short leafed pine(?) I don't know and larch (in swampy places, deciduous, now yellow and losing needles). Undergrowth abundant; and prostrate plants covering otherwise bare ground, cowpicons. Low places with standing water and mossy. Ground rolling, glaciated; 1 sand, water-worn pebbles, or else smoothed rock surfaces. 1:50 p.m. - Somewhere near Heron Bay (looking south over Lake Superior): Rock surfaces, glacier grooved, predominate; trees scattering and of small stature, longer in bottoms of depressions; many inland lakes and ponds; their but continuous vegetation everywhere not rocky, and even on rocks, bishons; streams run brown sparkle-water. Ten + Buteos (possibly Rough-legs) in flight, circling over last headlands - perhaps preparatory to striking south over the Lake. One seen just this minute, broad wings, white base of tail, short tail - is undoubtedly an American Roughleg in light phase. In a shallow grassy-margined little saw several Muskrat houses. But have seen no sign of beaver - all trapped out? This

Oct. 17, in Ontario country, as I remember history, was originally entered by the French after beaver pelts. A great amount of aspen and cottonwood is available along many streams. Why not re-plant them? Along here is being construct a highway; on low ground this is being bedded with "corduroy", tree trunks up to 10 inches diameter, laid crosswise close together. I suppose this is govt relief work. Many winter camps, with substantial buildings are being built, to be lived in by construction crews now living in tents. The highway parallels the railroad pretty much, but must be shorter, since it goes up over the succession of north-south ridges instead of south around this lake-ward ends as has the railroad for the most part. With all the lakes and streams in this country, I saw just 6 waterfowl all day: one Black Duck (tipping up in shallow grassy border of pond); one small duck like a tufflehead; two small grebes (?), and an unknown. Oct. 18 Arrived in Toronto at 7 a. m.

Toronto, Oct. 18 2:10. - In Queens Park, sitting in settle; warm! Have walked north along University Avenue from our Hotel York Royal. West wind, dry; autumn leaves (maple, oak, etc.), brown, herded along in droves, sometimes swirls - mob-psychology, many individuals in one direction; but different "mobs" along different courses, - sometimes converse, sometimes apart. Never saw such accretion of autumn leaves before! Mrs. G. spots 4 Golden-crowned Kinglets in her shrubbery, leafless, under large trees between much-travelled paths. Otherwise only English Sparrows - many! [This morning from the train as it entered the city, we saw a European Starling in flight over the buildings.] 3:30. - On the Zoology floor of the Royal Ontario Museum, in Queens Park. Viewing the special A.O.U. exhibit: of Brooks drawings, and of books of Gilbert White - many editions, including the first. Also, a selection of late N. Am. bird literature; and a collection of bird and mammal specimens appropriately labeled (with quotations from White's "Natural History of Selborne"), from vicinity of Selborne, England. These were collected chiefly by Richard Bowdler Sharpe, and are from the J.H. Fleming collection.

Toronto, Oct. 19 In J.A. Fleming's museum. Send him list of all the Hawaiian birds in MVZ, for his comments. Possibility of exchange for some we haven't! Write Twomey, to purchase some of his stuff from Hudson Bay. Fleming got some, and the skins are very good. Fleming's collection is remarkably extensive for birds of the world. He has aimed to represent genera and to get examples of insular and extinct species - with a large measure of success. He has bought extensively - from not only collectors but from dealers such as Rosenberg of London. Skins thus obtained are often poor data defective, but are so rare many of them, to be irreplaceable with any sort of "make" of skin. Fleming showed me the Family Phoceidae, worthly of Africa - an amazing array of species highly colored out with some with huge tails or other feather developments; then the Tanagrides, of South America; and the Corebidae; and the Drepanidae. Toronto, Oct. 20 T.S. Palmer says to look up for Calif. Bibliography: Alton H. Hyde,

Toronto, Oct. 20 who wrote for the Oologist (under initials only), still alive, in Pajeros Valley; also Tod Sileinrantz, another egg collector. Friedman suggests Brewster Fund of Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., as possible publisher of Sinsdale's Meggie paper. Toronto, Oct. 21 to 25, inclusive: Time jammed with A.O.U. activities, all day and evenings - business meetings, regular programs, conversations with people. The latter almost the greatest benefit of the whole series of meetings. Program and minutes of meetings, by T.S.R., will of course appear in January Ack. Oct. 26: Left Toronto at 8:10 a.m. for New York. Out of Toronto toward Buffalo, terrain pretty level, a few glacial ridges, NE to SW; closely cultivated. Wild woods, of now leafless deciduous trees and

Oct. 26, Buffalo to New York 11:15 a.m. - at Buffalo. Clear day; saw far west out on Lake Erie. Niagara River at RR crossing from Ontario, very unexciting! Current slow. Later: On New York Central R.R.; along toward Rochester, country looks pretty poor - agriculturally exhausted farms run down; sheep often seen. Then toward Syracuse, looks better; but hills come in, with a bigger proportion of uncultivated area - marshes, wooded hills. Wheat: along Erie canal, which is in full construction - 4 barges towed by tug; very modern looking power diesel ?! freighters. A picturesque gorge along the east flowing river near Amsterdam. 5 p.m. - Out of Schenectady, route leaves river and goes over wooded terrain - wood pine art birch - extension of Catskill region which lies to southwestward. 6 p.m. - Dark, but reflection in Hudson River toward sunset sky; RR on east side following close along river; outline of Catskill Mountains on western horizon. Great Blue Heron and Gulls seen, against [illegible] sky above dusty horiz

Oct. 26. - Reached New York City at 7:50 p.m., and put up at Hotel "New Yorker" Oct. 27. At Zoological Park, in the Bronx. We see: Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), "first living specimen ever to reach America." Daburu (Tadornus mycteria), "largest wading bird found in America." Magnani Stork (Eurema galacta). Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja), several. Great Crowned Pigeon (Cypora creata), pair. Concave-crowned Hornbill (Dichoceros bicorns), one, morally pathetic. Birds-of-Paradise (many species, but not in full). Cock-of-the-Park (Rupicola rupicola). Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda Sim.). Emperor of Germany's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea julielmi Cabonis), one, full-plumaged. Wallace's Standard-winged Bird of Paradise (Semiaptera wallacei [Gray]), one. Turaeos (Turacos leucotis), one, Abyssinia. Toco Toucan (Phamphastos toco). Green-throated Mango Hummingbird (Samparrie grancineus), one. Sapphire Hummingbird (Hylocharis), 2 species, one each. South American Condor (Vultur gryphes). African Lamingeyer (Gypaetus barbatus).

Oct. 27, 1904. The day in Bronx Park balmy, sunny (too warm really clear in the western manner!). My impression of the zoo favorable; mammals and birds housed as well as may be; today everything except the most tropical kinds out-of-doors; thousands of people walking, or lounging, or seeing the animals; in latter case little real intelligence shown – as judged from very many comments overheard. Such might be cataloged by an observer and evaluated! Visited Aquarium in p.m. Oct. 28 Spent the day at Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Examined fiellers, horned larks, in bird collection now housed in new quarters – in the Whitney wing. Talked with various people – Chapman (seemingly in excellent health), Murphy, Zimmer (who mostly talked as about), Chapin, Nichols, Anthony. The latter talked about Eric Hill due to join his staff Nov. 1; said he wanted another zoologist of same training. Chapman was very gracious; showed us the special exhibit of Auduboriana carag which he pointed out items owned by himself, each with some

Oct. 28, N.Y. special bit of history concerning it. Zimmer Rept bewailing the enormous cost of the Roosevelt Memorial -- a huge Rotunda built not, the Oval-Office. group of "wings" -- chiefly of architectural quality; "if only" the money could have been put into science! Murphy is reading proof on a big work on the water-finds of the seas around South America. Oct. 29 - N.Y. Attending the session of the Audubon Association most of the day. I am impressed with the new N.A.A.S. personnel, under the leadership of John H. Baker, new Executive Secretary. He is a good presider, vigorous, shows his sincerity. His associates, Eaton, Walsh, Petersen, Vogt, and others [as per "graph"] are all young, alert, personable, fearless. The president of the Association, Kermit Roosevelt, is less personable -- dignified but not stimulating: The whole group show a fresh point of view, useful in a changing world in order to meet the situations newly arising. In the evening heard a symposium of Washington bureau-heads speaking before the N.A.A.S. on "Conservation-- Silcox of forestry, Bennett of soil erosion.

Oct. 29 - N.Y. Rohwer of entomology, a Major Ramsopher of CCC, Geo.Wright of N.P.S., and Darling of B.S. Most of these talks were obviously for the purpose of convincing Audubonites that the respective gov't divisions stand strong for "wild-life conservation". Geo. Wright's statements were the only "100% pure" conservationals. Most "wild-life" = game! [to be shot]. However, for a non-biologist, Darling seemed to be trying to take in other values than that to the sportsman. Oct. 30 Breakfasted with T.S.P. Then on to Washington. Oct. 31 In Washington. Visited Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Bailey, who are living in the old home at 1834 Kalorama Road. Since his retirement, Bailey has been devoting his time to devising various kinds of traps that are "humane" - that will catch fur animals without breaking their legs, hands and owls otherwise done by steel traps on poles. His basement is a workshop for experiments along those lines. But he finds trappers' "tradition" in favor of the standard "new-house" trap to be

Oct. 31 - Washington exceedingly difficult to overcome. The Bailey's are elderly - more frail than I've seen them ever before - the inevitable marks of time Bailey told me his mammoals of Oregon is due to appear "the first of the year" - is now in galley proof; says Chief Darling is actively favorable to publishing, but wants such reports more generally interesting, in style of compilers, to the public. Then went to Natl Museum, where most interesting conversations were held with its various people encountered. In mammal dept. saw Shamel (asst) and Verit Miller; latter looking fine, after last year's serious illness. He talked about tendencies toward increase in size in mammals leading "inevitably" to extinction. I raised the question as to tendency toward dwarfing leading in the same direction. He thought so, too; but "giantism" most fatal. He could not cite any case I reduction in size being shown

Oct. 31: Washington in any fossil record. I should ask the paleo. people at U.C. While I was in Miller's office, A.H. Howell came in with a batch of Journ. Mammalogy proof - this being the last issue under the old "editorial committee" auspices; thereafter, A. Brazier Howell, up at Baltimore, will be Editor. Saw J. H. Riley (of Bird Div.) - looks poorly - has had serious sinus trouble. He is working up old Siamese collection. Went out to lunch in the Nat. Zool. Park with Wetmore and Friedmann - very pleasant. Went there new reptile house - saw two sea-snakes and one eel one of them had just paralyzed - all under water in a tank. Etc. In late afternoon, visited E.A. Preble in his office in Nature Magazine Bldg. on 16th St. He told me interestingly of his interests and problems - altogether now, since his recent retirement from B.S., in Nature Magazine (of which he is an associate editor) and in 100% conservation. In all connection he is not in sympathy

Oct 31: Washington with many BS policies - he is happy now to be a free-lance. For one thing, he is very dubious about the new "wild-life institute" which Darling has promoted (including ammunition-makers, auto mgrs, Kodak people, "Conservationists" - all & "rest") most especially game!) Nov. 1 Visited Waldo L. Schmidt, in invertebrate dept. of Nat'l Museum; talked about Galapagos Islands - he plans a visit that region again if possible. Replied to Swarth's work on birds there, and need of study of skeletons of Geospiza. Met Mary T. Rathbun, a very little elderly lady with a big head; she reminisced about a trip she made into Yosemite long ago with a party headed by C. Hart Merriam. Then visited with Geo S. Myers, curator of fishes - a Stanford graduate. We discussed the forsalry there, I support Ichthyology as based on the great Jordan-Gathead collections. Myers told me that Wilbur had verbally declared that this field of biology would not be allowed to lapse; but nothing has been done about it. Incidentally, Myers told me he was present at

Nov. 1 - Washington a meeting of the Stanford faculty in biology when it was voted that out materials of special value (types, Laysan colls.), not fishes, should be given to MVZ. Wilbur was away at the time; it is suspected that upon his return, he disapproved this departmental action. I should follow up this lead tactfully with Wilbur (on basis of added MVZ endowment) - submitting draft of my letter to Sprout, however. Visited Wetmore, who showed me a lot of birds recently collected by himself in the state nearby to Washington. Included [illegible] were specimens of Atlantic Dry Sparrow and Carolinensis franco, some of each of which Wetmore promised to send to MVZ - which would be new to us. Wetmore also showed me his system of maintaining his records for fossil birds of North America - reprints (where available), measurements, casual notes, citations - all together in one folder for each species. Also he showed me a cut set of entries for the list of North American birds (existing) to be kept down to date for the next AOU Checklist.

Nov. 1 - Washington This afternoon I went down on to the B.S mammal range; talked with H.H.T. Jackson, E.A.Goldman, A.H.Howell - all that are left of the B.S mammal men, now active! Saw a chronological graph on the wall showing history of mammal collecting under B.S - shows zero (1934,'35). Goldman is about to be sent off on another duck-counting expedition to Mexico. He lamented having to set aside his mammal work for "game" work. I suspect he is somewhat adrift in his own interest since Nelson's death; the latter was Goldman's guide and, indeed, director. Rem. Kellog and Miller advise making each Curator's complete set of his own writings - the Museums pays for the binding. Kellogg is finishing up his biggest paper yet, on the zeofodonts, to appear in the Carnegie pubs. Says he hasn't seen J.C.Merriam lately; it is budget time at the Carnegie Inst., and noone ventures to bother the administrators there of this season! Kellogg says Goldman is the only really hard worker on mammals on the B.S. staff now; Jackson "does nothing", merely complains!

Nov. 2: to Chicago Left Wash. at 6:45 last evening. Worked up somewhere in Ohio; then through Indiana, and into Illinois to Chicago at 12:30. I was impressed with corn-and-hogs as the chief crop all along. But lots of ground appeared not to be utilized; there was much waste pasture, brush land, and tracts of deciduous growths -- now in winter condition. Save for the coal or manufacturing towns, human dwelling seemed very run down; even several of the towns looked pretty slowly. The chief birds seen were Crows -- up to 8 or 10 in a group, sometimes in corn fields but usually on or over pasture or waste land. Saw a Sparrow Hawk chasing a Crow; a Flicker, a Meadowlark, and many English Sparrows in each town -- still common enough, be it noted! This afternoon I visited the Field Museum. It being Saturday, I was unable to connect with any of the curators. The "guards" said we were on Sat. afternoons; and no guard or other official I could find

Nov. 2: Chicago. would let me go up to the scientific collections. However, I put in full time till the closing hour (4:30) looking at the mounted stuff in the public exhibition halls. And there is an amazing amount of it - I got over only part of the birds and mammals. The museum was thronged with people; and a public lecture (on the Bird Antarctic Exp.) was jammed, so that I was able to get only a glimpse of the screen. A mounted adult California Condor (in a group) with wings spread showed the white under the wings to be much narrower than in a Brooks drawing I recall. As I walked across from the Stevens Hotel to the Field Museum, I skirted a tract of shrubbery, in which I got very close view of 2 Tree Sparrows and a Slate-colored Junco. Large numbers of Herring Gulls were flying high overhead into, or quartering, the strong cold north wind, against a leaden sky. No snow on foot, tho.

Nov. 3: Chicago Spent the day writing letters; rainy, gloomy, outside. Nov. 4 Out of Chicago for Denver at 10:30 a.m. Chicago "suburbs", dismal "subdivisions", a long way west of the city proper. Then corn-fields, stalks partly standing, partly down, partly in shocks; pigs; chickens; cattle; some pastures, tracts of deciduous woods; many trees with full dead leafage still holding on, but colorless, brown. Took pencil census of birds seen from 12:15 to 1:46, Sterling, Illinois, to the crossing of the Mississippi River just short of Clinton Iowa. Results (visibility poor): Red-tailed Hawk (1, soaring); Starlings (flocks, in flight, 15, 80+, 150+); English Sparrow (25+, only around stations in towns); Killdeer (4, on muddy plowed field); Red-winged Blackbird (straggling fbody of 200+ flying from pasture adjacent to cattle yard); Crow (flocks of 145+ 75+, 60+, only as we approached the Mississippi bottoms— all in flight). Then Iowa, had been raining heavily; stream courses bank-full; much water standing in fields and pastures; country rolling; corn-and-hogs, chickens, cows.

Nov. 5: to Denver In morning along Platte River bottom toward Julesburg, Nebraska; very little snow, in scattered, sheltered places. Prairie rolling, save for bottom-living? willows and cottonwoods. Saw 5 Magpies; 18 geese; and two Ducks, the latter on running shallow stream. Down into Colorado; more snow, sun continues, this only 2 or 3 inches deep. Saw many Horned Larks, at least 4 Meadowlarks, 12+ Magpies, 1 Pheasant, numerous English Sparrows in towns. Beets appear to be the main crop, raised on bottomlands; open rolling prairie, un cultivated; vast stretches seem uninhabited. The day nearly clear, I judge by the thick ice on standing water, plenty cold. Pencil census from Sterling, Colo., to Fort Morgan (4276 ft./alt.), 9:35 to 10:35. - English Sparrows (7, in a town); Ring-necked Pheasant (1, at edge of corn-field); Magpie 13, flying, singles mostly); Meadowlark 41, in 5 groups flushed from weedy fields); unknown small birds, 51+; Prairie Falcon (1 ? in flight close to train, evidently just left telegraph pole); Ferruginous Rough-leg (3 separate ones; one flying, one perched on fence-post, one perched on dilapidated windmill), Mourning Dove (8+, flushed by train from weedy fields, singly and in pairs).

No. 5: Denver Frederic W. Miller has gone to Dallas, Texas, as Director of the Museum of Natural History [of R.T. Shields, Park Board, City of Dallas]. Figgins says his salary here was doubled, and he has fine opportunity to develop a museum of his own; says Miller has had training here from bottom to top, in the exhibition function, and that his interest in mammals and birds will lead him to develop the scientific side too -- more close to place MVZ-trained "vertebrates." Got in to Denver at 1:15, and as soon as we got settled at Iler O. Watson's (Mrs. F's brother-in-law), I went out to Colorado Museum of Natural History. Found the Director, Jesse D. Figgins, an excellent time as to exhibit and spirits. We reminisced at length -- Re. Cohee, Wm. Palmer, Richmond, W.E.C. Todd, Preble, et al. He told of his quarrel with T. Gilbert Pearson -- gave his opinion of the latter in no uncertain terms! Cleared of the B.S. (that is, of the present "glorified clerk" administration).

Nov. 5 - Denver Later: Thinking back, of birds seen this morning after 10:35: The route continued along one side and then the other, of the Platte River, from Sterling to La Salle. The river itself is very low - where running, I water say 6 inches deep and 20 feet wide, zigzagging over a very broad sandy bottom. This "first-bottom" is grown to cottonwoods and willows, chiefly; tracts of great extent, which must support a huge bird population in summer. Even now, in winter undetion, very many birds, small as, not identifiable, were seen from the train - besides the conspicuous kinds. I was, of course, thrilled by the great number of Magpie nests all along, as well as of the birds themselves. While the river itself now contains little water itself, I saw evidence that irrigation canals and ditches divert the water from up-stream neighbors to the farming lands in the second bottom. There were great patches of tall "weed" - seed-bearing, and from such flushed many Meadowlarks, Horned Larks, Mourning Doves, and small bird sparrow kinds. Two Wilson Snipe flushed separately from

Nov. 5 - Denver a ditch and from a moist borrow-pit along the river, were ducks, flushed in pairs and groups; 2 or 3 large flocks seen in flight. One flock of 75 or so geese. One adult Red-tailed Hawk in flight closely, and a buteo perched that looked like an American Rough-hog. Gulls were seen along the river - scattering lazy ones that I took to be Herring Gulls and a wassed flock of fully 75 that I thought were Ring-billed Gulls. Denver: Nov. 6 Last night Robert J. Niedrach, of the Colo. Mus. Nat. Hist. called on me. He, with Rogers of that staff, are about to leave for Guatemala to collect material primarily for groups for the Museum. This work is under the direction of Figgins, though it latter will not go himself. The party plans to be gone 7 to 10 months, and will be joined there by the experienced collectors, C.F. Underwood and Austin Paul Smith. Niedrach had a lot to say about conditions here - Figgins' lack of sympathy with any sort of scientific work

Denver: Nov. 6 save as he himself is concerned with it; his discouragement of collecting anything but exhibition materials. At the same time I should say, that he assured me yesterday the WC at MVZ could freely borrow any birds and mammals here for our studies there - just to "say the word." Niedrach tells me he has just been made a full "Curator" here, after 20 years work for this museum - this recognition from the Trustees, apparently not urged by Figgins! The latter is 67 years old, but shows no inclination toward retiring! I will say, for Figgins, that his museum under his artistic and tireless direction, is just about the best in the country, group for group. Niedrach told me some things about Colorado birds of special interest: Once he found in winter '14 White-throated Swifts on a rocky niche. He thought them "dead of cold", and he made them all into skins. He was surprised to find them fat, tho "stomachs empty". Could they have been merely dormant?! He has also found a regular winter roosting resort of Lanius cristatus, 4 four species or subspecies in one place - in nests of Cliff Swallows

"Denver - Nov. 6\n\non a 'clay bank' only about\n15 miles from Denver. He\ncatches the Savannah Sparrow at night\nwith a net, taking any number of\nBlack, Brown, Gray-crowned and\nHepburn! He kept a mixed assortment\nof 75 or so in cages one winter,\nturning most of them loose. They were\neasy to keep - fed on 'weed-seed'\nwhich he could buy in the market\ncheaply.\n\nNiedrahl says Mourning Doves stay here\nall winter, even then the coldest spell\nthat recently he has noted Broad-winged\nHawks migrating thru in May,\nthat Red-eyed Vireos have become\ncasual visitors here in the city;\netc. He knows a great deal and\nshould be urged to write records\nand 'stories' for the Courier. Also\nhe, or someone else than him, might\nbe gotten to secure Colo. species\nneeded at MVZ; for example,\ngoldfinches (green-backed), Linnets,\nGray Phoebe, Lancostites, Sneeze Owl\netc.\n\nTook Union Pacific train out\nof Denver at 5:45 p.m. Snow\nmostly gone today; partly clear; temp. about 45

Nov. 7, in Utah At Ogden, Utah, 6:45 to 9 a.m. Many english Sparrows along the streets; we valued. West out of Ogden, saw very many Magpies and some Blackbirds Brewer?). Mrs. S. & I. took pencil census on both sides of train across Great Salt Lake -- or rather, we were prepared to, at all we got, from Promontory Point clear west, to the west end of the trestle, 9:33 to 10:30, was 26 California Gulls near "Mid- where", mostly sitting on the water where pigeons had been thrown overboard, 'duck flying, and one Raven, at west end of trestle. Day clear, cool but not freezing; water glossy smooth. Approaching Montello saw a Golden eagle in circling flight; also Ravens settled along. Over the Volley Pass region, where are tracts of junipers and pinyons, there was thin snow lying in shaded places. A train man said it had been 10° below zero somewhere near Wells earlier in the week. Along the Humboldt Valley bottomlands, west from Wells to Yolo (when it came to get dark) the birds seen most continuously were Magpies -- or from exterminated! Next were Ravens, this not as many as I think I've seen before; one Flicker. Nov. 8: Arrived Berkeley at 7:30 a.m.

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