1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 43 



almost in his dooryard, but that he had never suffered the loss of any poultry, 

 while the service rendered in keeping the mice and gophers in check would have 

 re])aid him for the loss of many chickens. Would there were more of that kind 

 of farmers ! 



Butco swainsoni arrives in this vicinity late in March and is common by the 

 first of April. The birds depart in August, gathering in large flocks and moving 

 leisurely. 



This hawk nests on the west side plains, along the San Joaquin River below 

 Lane's Bridge, and in the cottonwoods on Dry Creek, east of Clovis. For a more 

 complete account of the habits of this bird, as observed in Fresno County, the 

 reader is referred to TJic Oologist (xxv, no. i, pages 9-12). 



American Rough-legged Hawk. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis 

 (Gmelin). 



This hawk occurs during the winter on the uncultivated plains extending 

 from Raisin to within four miles of New Hope. Individuals have been most 

 frequently observed near the Artesian Well, sitting on knolls and the mounds 

 around squirrel excavations. They are rather sluggish birds, seemingly, and if 

 undisturbed will allow a fairly close approach. When finally forced to take 

 wing it is only to fly heavily to another eminence a short distance away. Some 

 of the birds appear almost black. I have never seen this hawk elsewhere, and it 

 can not be regarded as common. I have seldom observed more than one bird in 

 sight at a time. 



I have been unable to get definite information as to the dates of arrival and 

 departure of this bird, but it is safe to say that the species is more common dur- 

 ing November and December than at any other time. 



Mr. Joseph Sloanaker presented the author with a beautiful skin of a female 

 rough-leg, taken near Raisin on November 26, 1910. This specimen measured 

 twenty-one inches in length. A farmer shot the hawk and brought it to Mr. 

 Sloanaker in a crippled condition. It was kept alive for a day or two, but see- 

 ing it was not likely to survive its wounds, it was finally dispatched. This speci- 

 men has been examined by Mr. Grinnell, who verified our identification. 



Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk. Archibuteo femigineus (Tichtenstein). 



This large hawk occurs in certain sections during the winter, but very lit- 

 tle seems to be known of it locally. I should call it a rare visitant, occuring most 

 often along the sloughs of the west side region. It prefers a more wooded coun- 

 try than the preceding species and hunts along the willow-bordered sloughs and 

 over the grain fields, but seldom intrudes upon the range of sancti-johanms. 



December 2, 1904, I examined one of these birds that was found dead near 

 New Hope, and January 12. 1906, another that had been shot and left lying at 

 the roadside near Clovis. 



Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus). 



The Golden Eagle is another resident of the mountains, but occasionally, in 

 winter, it comes down into tlie valley. Mr. Chas. E. Jenney tells of having cap- 

 tured a sick or wounded eagle some years ago and keeping it in captivity for 

 some time, after which it was released. 



March 17, 1902, an eagle was seen soaring over the grain fields one mile 



