128 THE; CONDOR Vol. XV who wrote to their legislators urging the reform legislation; (2) to the persistent work of the Fish and Game Commission; (3) to the cooperation of the Fish and Game Commission of Oregon; (4) to the cordial cooperation of the ablest and most enlightened of California's law-makers; (5) to the leaders of the national conservation campaign in New York City and Washington, D.C.; (6) to the far-sighted sportsmen who put real conservation above personal interest; and (7) to the unselfish devotion of some of the busiest of California's leaders, newspaper editors, officials of women's clubs, doctors; lawyers, ministers, university pro- fessors, and business men. In conclusion, it may be said that while the laws on the statute books are good, still others are badly needed. But there must be something more than laws if the situation is to be permanently improved. A public sentiment more favorable to wild life protection must be awakened. This can only come through a broad educaton, which shall mean not only completer knowledge of the wfltl life and of the game laws, but also a greater willingness to abide by the law? when these are known and understood, and an increased respect for the authori- ties constituted to enforce them. FI?OM FIELD AND STUDY Harris Hawk in California.--I got a fine specimen of Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi on November 17, 1912, a male in full plumage. The bird when seen was perched on a tele- phone pole overlooking my neighbor's poultry yard, in Mission Valley, near San Diego. The lady shot it on suspicion, and sent it over to me. The skin is now in the collection of the San Diego Society of Natural History and is said to be the first recorded for San Diego County and the second for California.--HgNR An Unusual Nest of the Sora Rail.--On June 18, 1912, I collected a set of eggs of Fig. 39. NEST AND ]7?IGHTEEN ?GS o1? THE SORA I?AIL; PHOTOGRAPHED JUNE 18, 1912, NEAR CHOUTEAU, MONTANA the Sora Rail (Porgana carolina) that num- bered eighteen. This nest was located in a marsh near Chouteau, Montana. It was first found on June 14, at which time it contained but thirteen visible eggs. Having failed to get a successful photograph of this nest when it was first fore, d, I visited it again on the 18th, when finding the visible number of eggs increased to seventeen I decided to collect it. After I had photographed it and removed it I found the eighteenth egg, embedded in the nest material in the bottom of the nest. In the accompanying photograph but fifteen eggs are visible, the others being in a lower layer. , ? It is probable, from the number of eggs found on the different dates, that the eggs were laid daily, and that the last one had been laid the morning of the 18th. Had it been possible it would have been interesting to have left the nest for another visit to see whethe? the bird would have laid more, but I had no opportunity to visit it again. The eggs were all the way from fresh to advanced in incuba- tion. From appearances, some of them would have hatched in a few days more. The nest was placed in thick rushes, supported by them, and roughly arched over by drawing the tops of the ones surrounding the nest together. It was built of dead rushes, and the bottom of it rested in the water, which at that place in the marsh was about six inches deep.--A?as A- SAUN?RS.
