402 Ray, A-Birding in an Auto. \Jott 



usurped the road-bed. The region is locally known as the "hog- 

 wallow" country and it certainly deserves its name. Water 

 birds were unusually numerous. Black-necked Stilts were as 

 abundant as fowls about a barnyard, and we were also favored 

 with the occasional presence of the delicately colored and graceful 

 American Avocet, while the hovering flocks of Forster and Black 

 Terns above the tule patches reminded one of their great Sierran 

 summer haunts. Immense bands of American White Pelicans, 

 countless Cinnamon Teal, as well as other less abundant varieties, 

 gave the region, otherwise peculiarly uninviting, a deep interest 

 for the ornithologist. But repeatedly to lay on our back on a 

 muddy road beneath a conglomeration of machinery to repair or 

 adjust some injury, did much to draw our attention from the bird 

 life. The road improved as we approached Los Bafios, and we 

 hoped for better times to Dos Palos, but this section eclipsed all 

 that we had traversed. A dozen times we came to a complete 

 stop, for to continue through the ponds, sloughs, and deep hollows 

 of what only in extreme courtesy could be called a road, seemed 

 impossible. Covered with mud we finally emerged from the 

 swamp and entered the old Mexican town above named. Two 

 miles further on, at Colony Center, the country changed from 

 worst to best. Smooth roads, lined with tall shade trees, led by 

 prosperous farms with their fields of grain, orchards and dairy 

 lands. Numerous bird forms flitted about, while from many a 

 swaying roadside bough the Bullock Oriole had hung its dainty 

 basket of horsehair. A pretty ride into Firebaugh was marred 

 only by storm clouds which soon overcast the sky, and we were 

 forced by heavy rain to halt at this town, which stands on the 

 west bank of the San Joaquin River. 



May 12. — To Kings River, 76 miles. Additional species, 10. 



An almost steady downpour continued last night, causing the 

 roads to be so slippery that we deemed it inadvisable to continue 

 until noon. Several hours were spent overhauling our gasoline 

 wagon, and later we rambled over the broad willow-covered flat 

 which banks the river on both sides. Never have I seen any local- 

 ity equal this for the abundance of the House Finch, which was 

 nesting everywhere. Many Bullock Orioles were building in the 

 oaks and willows, a Western Tree Swallow's nest disclosed two 



