DIXON, Joseph Scattergood

From Islapedia
Oak Hill Memorial Park, Escondido, CA
Salvador Ramirez who planted foxes from Catalina onto San Clemente Island, 1875.

DIXON, Joseph Scattergood (1884-1952), Kansas-born ornithologist hired as a field collector by Joseph Grinnell in 1908. In 1915 Dixon became Assistant Curator of Mammals at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. From 1920-1931 he held the post of Economic Mammalogist in the Museum until he left to work for the National Park Service. Dixon collected on Santa Catalina Island April 6-12, 1920, and on San Clemente Island April 12-17, 1920. One of his most significant notations is that of information he recorded in an interview with Salvador Ramirez, who relocated Santa Catalina Island foxes to San Clemente Island in 1875, and who also placed goats on that island the same year:

“Salvador Ramirez, a Spaniard of the old school who came to San Clemente in 1875 as a young man to tend sheep and who has lived for the most part on the island since then gave me the following information regarding foxes on Clemente: There were no foxes on the island (Clemente) previous to this time (1875), so being naturally interested in birds and animals, he asked and received permission from his employers on Catalina Island, to catch and bring over some foxes and goats. One pair (male & Female) were caught, brought over and turned loose near Wilson Cove and from this pair have sprung the entire present population of foxes on Clemente. Ramirez says that the foxes varied in color somewhat on Catalina, that some were brighter (redder) than others and that he picked good ones hence the bright foxes on Clemente.”


Dixon became a member of the Cooper Ornithological Club in 1904. Directory of Members, Cooper Ornithological Club, May 1914:

  • Joseph Dixon. Escondido, CA 1904.


Dixon collected on:


Dixon’s field notes are on file at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley. Dixon died in San Diego on June 23, 1952 at age 68. He is buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park, Escondido, CA.


Palmer, T. S. Nomenclature of California Birds in Condor 30(5):267-268 September-October 1928:

DIXON, Joseph Scattergood “Born at Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kansas, March 5, 1884. A member of the American Ornithologists' Union and Cooper Ornithological Club, who has published a number of papers on the mammals and birds of the west coast. He is a remarkable careful observer, has made many important observations on the life histories of various species, and has recently discovered the nest and eggs of the Surf-bird in Alaska. In recognition of his work, W. S. Brooks has named the west coast White-winger Scoter, Melanitta f. dixoni, in his honor. This bird is common on the coast of California but is not generally considered distinct from the typical form.”


  • 1924. Grinnell, Joseph and Joseph Dixon. Revision of the Genus Lynx in California University of California Publications in Zoology 21(13):339-354, 1 figure in text. Stapled wraps.
[original in SCIF archives] [ex-lib. M.D. Daily]


DIXON'S ISLAND FIELD NOTES:



  • DIXON'S 1920 SANTA CATALINA ISLAND PHOTOS
  • Catalina Island Fox
  • Catalina Island fox in shade of bush.
  • Urocyon habitat: Wild Cherry, Black Sage and Opuntia.
  • Rugged west coastline: Urocyon habitat.
  • Scrub oak hillside, elder dotted-valley
  • Red spiked annual, seeds form food plant for ground squirrel.
  • Hotel St. Catherine.
  • Adenostoma bushes, habitat of Peromyscus m. catalinae.
  • Reithrodontomys habitat, nicotina grove.


  • DIXON'S 1920 SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND PHOTOS
  • Opuntia cactus thicket.
  • "Banana" cactus where fox sparrows were trapped.
  • Rugged point being buried by wind-blown sand.
  • Abandoned Osprey nest, San Clemente Island, 1920


SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 14, 1920 MVZ-31200 Urocyon littoralis catalinae Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 17, 1920 MVZ-31179 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 17, 1920 MVZ-7355 Xantusia riversiana Herps
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 17, 1920 MVZ-7356 Xantusia riversiana Herps
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 17, 1920 MVZ-7357 Xantusia riversiana Herps
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 17, 1920 MVZ-7354 Uta stansburiana Herps
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31180 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31181 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31182 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31183 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31184 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31185 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31186 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31187 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31188 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31189 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31190 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-31191 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-40449 Melospiza melodia clementae Birds
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-40451 Passerella iliaca unalaschensis Birds
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 18, 1920 MVZ-40452 Passerella iliaca unalaschensis Birds
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 19, 1920 MVZ-31203 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 19, 1920 MVZ-31204 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 19, 1920 MVZ-31205 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 19, 1920 MVZ-31206 Peromyscus maniculatus clementis Mammals
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 19, 1920 MVZ-7358 Xantusia riversiana Herps
San Clemente Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 19, 1920 MVZ-7359 Xantusia riversiana Herps


SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 7, 1920 MVZ-31162 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 7, 1920 MVZ-31163 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 7, 1920 MVZ-181729 Otospermophilus beecheyi nesioticus Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 7, 1920 MVZ-31192 Otospermophilus beecheyi nesioticus Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 7, 1920 MVZ-31193 Otospermophilus beecheyi nesioticus Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 7, 1920 MVZ-31194 Otospermophilus beecheyi nesioticus Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 7, 1920 MVZ-31202 Pipilo maculatus clementae Birds
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 8, 1920 MVZ-40450 Passerella iliaca unalaschensis Birds
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 8, 1920 MVZ-31201 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 8, 1920 MVZ-31164 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 8, 1920 MVZ-31165 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 8, 1920 MVZ-31166 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 8, 1920 MVZ-31167 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 8, 1920 MVZ-31202 Pipilo maculatus clementae Birds
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 9, 1920 MVZ-31197 Urocyon littoralis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 9, 1920 MVZ-31195 Otospermophilus beecheyi nesioticus Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 9, 1920 MVZ-31169 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 9, 1920 MVZ-31170 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 9, 1920 MVZ-31168 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 9, 1920 MVZ-31202 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 10, 1920 MVZ-31177 Peromyscus maiculatus catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 10, 1920 MVZ-31178 Peromyscus maiculatus catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 10, 1920 MVZ-31171 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 10, 1920 MVZ-31172 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 10, 1920 MVZ-31173 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 10, 1920 MVZ-31174 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 11, 1920 MVZ-31196 Otospermophilus beecheyi nesioticus Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 11, 1920 MVZ-31175 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 11, 1920 MVZ-31176 Reithronontomys megalotis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 11, 1920 MVZ-31198 Urocyon littoralis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 12, 1920 MVZ-31199 Urocyon littoralis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 14, 1920 MVZ-31200 Urocyon littoralis catalinae Mammals
Santa Catalina Island J. S. Dixon MVZ April 14, 1920 MVZ-32721 Peromyscus maniculatus catalinae Mammals
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