Transcribing the field notes of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology

Collector: Grinnell - 1925 Location: La Grulla, 7200 ft. Date: Oct. 9 Page Number: 2580

doubtless hardly covered with dirt as they go. I suppose they find the insects in the leaf-mold under the thickets here and there. Lamb and I both have "modified" Macabee gofer (sic) traps set all the time for the moles, but this species is so small that an individual goes thru and thru (sic) a trap without springing it, or if sprung, without nipping(?) him. 7:00 p.m. -- Barometer = 23.20 inches Sky partly overcast, but northwest wind blowing cold. 6466 Merriam Chipmunk (male sign) 56g. 226x98x34x14. Under boulder. 6467 Merriam Chipmunk (male sign) 55.4g. 217x90x33x16. Under manzanita. Oct. 10 6468 Thomomys (female sign) 88g. 196x71x29.5x4. In wet sand. 6469 Thomomys (male sign) 129 g. 225x80x32x4 In dry "second(?)bottom". Discarded: 1 Peromyscus maniculatus (male sign), under edge of boulder by cascara thicket; P. truei, 1 (male sign), 1 (female sign);by cascara bushes and boulders; P. boylii (male sign), by manzanita, on dry upland. 6470 Audubon Warbler (female sign) im. 10.0g. Shot in willow by stream. 6471 Pigmy Nuthatch (male sign)ad. 10.5g. Shot on ground under pine. 6472 Slender-billed Nuthatch (male sign) ad. 16.4g. Shot from high in pine. 6473 Townsend Junco (male sign) ad. 18.6g. Shot on top of boulder. 6474 White-crowned Sparrow (male sign) ad. 26.9g. Shot in willow by stream. 6475 Monterey Hermit Thrush (male sign) im. 21.8(?)g. Shot in cascara bush. 6476 Tanager (male sign) im. 25.3g. Shot in cascara bush under pine. 6477 Bluebird (male sign) ad. 27.0g. Shot from lower branch of pine. 6578 Spurred Towhee (female sign) ad. 36.4g. Shot in top of cascara bush. 6479 "Pinero" (female sign) ad. 91.4g. Shot from pine.

Collector: Grinnell - 1925 Location: La Grulla, 7200 ft. Date: Oct. 13 Page Number: 2586

see in very faint outline the mountains of Sonora. The panorama reminded me strongly of that seen from the Santa Rosa or San Jacinto mountains of southern California eastward. Toward the top of the divide the prevailing Jeffrey pines were mixed with some white fir, incense cedar and sugar pine; and in the rough hills adjoining the pass were numerous scrubby oaks, and rather dense chaparral of manzanita, buckthorn, and cascara. It was here, on the dessert slope of the divide, that I encountered the three Calif. Jays. The following census was pencil checked on card-board on the way out, from camp to my farthest point over the divide, 7:20 to 10:00. Pigmy Nuthatch 68; Audubon Warbler 5 (only along the stream); Bluebird 10; Cabanis Woodpecker 6; Townsend Junco 13; Chickadee 10; Raven 5; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Pinyon Jay 1 (heard); Olive-backed Thrush (1, in cascara bush); Canyon Wren 2; Williamson Sapsucker 1; Slender-billed Nuthatch 4; Red-shafted Flicker 1; Spurred Towhee 1; Siskin 5; Calif. Jay 3. Total, 17 species, 138 individuals, in 2 2/3 hours. Note that just about half of all the birds noted were Pigmy Nuthatches! Of mammals I checked in the same period; Chipmunk 28;Scirus 2 (in pine near divide); Wildcat (one out in open meadow in bight sunshine; bounded up a draw; may have been laying for birds coming to drink at the seepage near where he was); on the way down

Collector: Grinnell - 1925 Location: San Jose, 2500 ft., Lat. 31 degrees Date: October 19, 1925 Page Number: 2596

There was a little seepage there, and some rainwater in granite bowls in the stream-course. Large numbers of Valley Quail centered there. The following are the birds I saw, by individuals, from memory; but there were so few, I believe I am close & correct. Red-shafted Flicker (2); San Lucas Flycatcher (1, shot); Calif Jay (10±) Audubon Warbler (16±); Ruby-crown Kinglet (1); Spotted Towhee (5); Brown Towhee (4); Green-backed Goldfinch (1); Lawrence Goldfinch (1, seen and heard in flight overhead); Intermediate Sparrow (20±); Bell Sparrow (2); Calif. Thrashers (3); Shrike (one, very shy, seen and heard repeatedly, but refused to be stalked); Bewick Wren (3); Rock Wren (2); Valley Quail (40±). Horseback is a good way of taking a census, as it increases the range of vision, though chances of hearing high-pitched voices are less because of the squeakings of the saddle, rattle of the bit-chain, etc. I rather think that a foot in most productive, as a person can stop instantly, in perfect quiet, and listen and look; while the horse takes time to come to a standstill and even then fidgets. Of mammals, I saw one Jack Rabbit, and one Bush Rabbit, the latter, as usual in Adenostoma bush. Large bare areas in the mesa, adjacent to sage-bush and juniper, showed great amounts of Dipodomys sign — of the same sort as where I am trapping, near the ranch; this is of the heermanni or paramintinus kind and not of the agilis brand, it seems to me.

Collector: Grinnell - 1925 Location: To San Diego Date: October 31, 1925 Page Number: 2614

6:30 a.m. - Last night’s camp a pleasant one. Fog high, and things dry. Live oaks along the west-flowing (dry) watercourse; chaparral of “San Diegan” type on each hillside. Birds: Wrentits, numerously calling; Spotted Towhee; Linnet; Red-shafted Flicker; Audubon Warbler.

Got under way a little before 7 and reached Ensenada at 8:30. Within 10 miles north on Ensenada got a good view, close ranch, flying thru brush at roadside, of a Pigeon Hawk, fully adult, I am quite sure — dark blue back.

In Ensenada, went to see Goldbaum and his museum. The Governor of B.C., Rodriguez, has built him a very substantial little building, “El Museum Regional”, in which are some atrociously mounted vertebrates, but mostly geological specimens. The only thing I saw of special interest was a mounted Spoonbill (Ajaiah) taken [recently?] on the Hardy River by. Capt. E.W. Funcke.

Continued on to San Diego, 10 to 3:30; not delayed at all by the custom officials on either side the line.

Nov. 1 In San Diego: Last evening I called on Mr. Ingersoll at his house. Found him vigorous, and as enthusiastically interested in birds’ eggs as ever. He and Mr. + Mrs. John Burnham were up in the Sierras the past summer and had taken eggs of many good things, such as Sierra Grouse and Hermit Warbler.