General Notes. 55 



Habits of Vaux's Swift. — During the past season I had an un- 

 usually favorable opportunity for observing the habits of Chcetura vauxi 

 during the breeding season, or rather the mating season, for at the time of 

 my observations they had not yet commenced to breed. Having learned 

 that some Water Ouzels were to be found in a small stream that has its 

 source in the numerous gulches of Mt. Tamalpias, situated in the township 

 of San Rafael, Cal., I started, in company with a friend, early on the morn- 

 ing of May 2 of the present season (1879). We reached, after two hours of 

 rough riding, the banks of Laganitas Creek, where we expected to find 

 the Water Ouzels. The first birds that we met, however, were a small 

 flock of Violet-green Swallows. Dismounting and picketing our horses, 

 we commenced shooting these beautiful Swallows, which were now in per- 

 fect plumage. While engaged in this work, suddenly a Vaux's Swift 

 made its appearance among the now frightened Swallows, which were 

 circling around high overhead, and drifting down the valley of the stream, 

 which lay between high mountains. We followed on, clambering over 

 rocks and going around falls and rapids, until, about a mile and a half from 

 the scene of our first operation, we found an open valley of some two hun- 

 dred acres in extent. And such a sight ! It was fairly swarming with 

 Violet-green Swallows, which were so fearless that they would approach 

 us so closely that we could easily see their black, sparkling little eyes. 

 Having shot all these that we cared to, and being on the watch for the 

 Swifts, we soon discovered them higher up on the sides of the moun- 

 tains, to which we soon climbed, and took stations on the most prominent 

 points in order to get favorable shots, as they came darting by with 

 the rapidity of lightning. It was not long before we had opportunities to 

 shoot, and brought down two or three, but found it a much more difficult 

 matter than shooting the Swallows, on account of the great height and 

 rapidity of their flight. To show the difference, I may state that in seven 

 consecutive shots I brought down six Violet-greens, and out of fifteen 

 shots I got only four Swifts. 



These Swifts appear to me to differ in their habits from the Eastern 

 bird, C. pelasgia. They do not utter the sharp, rattling chipper of that 

 species, but have a weak, lisping note, which is, as near as I can imitate 

 it, chip-chip-cMp-cheweet-cheweet, and this is only to be heard during the 

 pairing season, when two, probably the male and female, ai-e chasing each 

 other. I have never seen them circling about in threes and fives, in the man- 

 ner of C. pelasgia, nor have I ever seen more than two together. Although 

 as many as forty or fifty may be in sight at once, each pair or individual 

 seems to keep aloof from the othei-s. After the nesting season has begun th-ey 

 are to be seen only early in the morning, or till about nine o'clock, when they 

 disappear to reappear again about an hour before dusk, though, should the 

 day be overcast, they may be seen at nearly all hours of the day, as is the 

 case during the pairing season, and also during the fall migration. They 

 are to be found only on the highest hills or mountains, where there are 



