Nov., I9O. I THE CONDOR 85

Notes from Alameda, Cal. American Barn Owl, Strix pratincola. The following notes will be of interest in sequel to my account of "Barn Owls in Captivity" in Sept.-Oct. number:---I now attribute the cause of death of the three birds mentioned to prolonged diet of dead chickens, baing my opinion on the effect such diet had upon a cat which had to be killed in consequence. The earliest nesting record in the article referred to was March 24, 19oo, 6 eggs, incubation fresh to slight, but this was beaten in 9oi by finding on March 2o, 4 eggs in one nest and 5 in another, in- cubation fresh to begin1; and on March 24, 6 eggs in one nest and 7 in another, incubatim slight, while' much better yet, a nest of young about a week old. These nests are all in AlamedaCouhty and were empty later than this on pre- violis years. Date of nestin of Salt Marsh Song Sparrow, 3elospiza me/odia pttsillttla. '['lie earliest nesting date of this bird is much earlier, this year at least, than is generally supposed. In rtcent year [ have noted full-fledged young flying about the marshes in April and on March ii about lO sets of 3 eggs each were taken on portions of the salt marsh here not subject to overflow from the flood tides. Incubation was fresh to slight and tlle nests built in the salt weeds or grass, literally upon the ground. Recrds of Snowy Owl, Vyctea n. yclea at Alameda, Cal. My uote book con- tains the following:--l)ecember 2, I896, a fine specimen was shot by Tom Caw andugh on the "sand-hills" between the marsh and the beach of Bay Farm Island, and he approached within easy range obtaining a "pot" shot. It passed into the possession of Percy Fox who had it nlounted and its identity passed up(,n by the taxidermist and by H. R. Taylor. October 26, 897, Sherry Fish (deceased) told me lie saw on the marsh the "mate" to the Snowy Owl. Tom Cavanaugh shot last winter. W.E. Bryant reports three birds taken Sonoma County by parties unknown to him, about that date. See California Department of "The Osprey" for Jan- uary 897 for account. Western Evening Grosbeaks, Cocco- thraustes vesperlinus montanus, were noted twice in Alameda last winter; January 29, 9oi, a snmll flock seen by Percy Fox, feeding upon seeds of pep- per tree in town. March 6, 9o, a flock of i ? birds flying in direct line, about 4o ft high, at 5:3 p.m. Song of Golden-crowned Sparrow, 7wnotrich[a coronata in winter is not an unconlmon occurrence here. October 24, I9OI, at present they are singing in- cessantly, often singing but two notes, accentuated exactly like the first two of the regular song of three notes:--as Mr. Jos. Grinnell describes it "oh dear" and "oh dear nle. ' California Jay, .4phelocoma ca/lornica as a flycatcher. Recently on a vacant lot in town I observed this Jay pursuing a small yellow butterfly and capture it in midair after several manenvers. Four varieties ofrailin one day on salt mrsh near Alameda. During a high tide which flooded the marsh about two hours on November 7, 9 oo, I took lo California Clapper Rail (]gallns obsoletus) one ?orzana carolina which is rarer than the next variety. io jamaicctsis, alld one ,l)otallst tensis, <, badly moulting. /gallus vir- .ffit/attts is a rare bird here. California Creeper, rthia./i, miliaris occitlella/i& January 14, I899, 3 taken here (m live tak tree, the only bird I ever noted. Arizona (;oldfinch, 3inus )Ss:t/lr[a arizona',  taken here, January 6, 898, among & psallria, and one seen at close range, August 2o, i899 , in moult, and feeding upon lettuce t,,ps gone to seed. Late neting of Black-crowned Night Herm ,[)'cticora.t' tl,clicora.r tazvius. I a recent article in this magazine [ cont- racured upou late nesting of this species stating that nestlings were heard clam- orlug well into August. This year l heard some young in a cypress tree