1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 29 



salt-grass pastures with cattle standing in the shade of the lone cottonwood in 

 the fence corner. I shall drink in the odor of salt grass and see again the long- 

 legged, black and white waders that alone can make the scene complete. 



I am looking forward even now to that day next spring when I can return 

 from my day's work and triumphantly announce to the folks at home, "Our 

 friends, the Stilts, have come!" 



Wilson Snipe. Gallinago delicata (Ord). 



This bird appears to be not uncommon in suitable places in winter. 

 Specimens sometimes find their way to a local taxidermist's establishment where 

 they afterwards appear, standing on a board, and with a calm trustful expres- 

 sion survey the other specimens. To see them thus one would doubt that they 

 could be the same species of which the writer once tried so hard to secure a 

 specimen. 



December 5, 1905, while driving along near Clovis my two companions and 

 myself observed a pair of these waders poking about in some tules in a muddv 

 ditch. When one of the boys approached the birds they separated and arose with 

 a derisive "scaip," only to settle a few hundred feet away. This pair, at least, 

 seemed in no danger so far as our party was concerned and as our supply of 

 ammunition was not inexhaustible we finally drove on, none the richer in anv- 

 thing but experience. 



Around the shallow ponds on the sewer farm these birds are often in evi- 

 dence, especially late in the evening. They prefer to poke about in the salt-grass 

 just at the margin of a pond, and when so occupied are not easily seen. Often 

 the startling "squa-aik" as the bird twists away with strong, quick flight, is the 

 first intimation that we have of the snipe's presence, and frequently the little 

 brown wader is not the most surprised of the two when such a chance meeting 

 takes place. 



Least Sandpiper. Pisobia minutilla (Vieillot). 



Least Sandpipers appear in late September or the first half of October, 

 and are found in flocks of from ten to thirty or more throughout the winter, de- 

 parting about the middle of April. This species is to be looked for around the 

 shallow, muddy ponds that occupy many of the low swales in the western half 

 of the district. Stagnant alkaline ponds are at all times preferred as feeding 

 grounds. I was greatly surprised on one occasion to hear a farm hand refer to 

 these tiny waders as "jack snipes." I had always supposed that the Stilts held 

 undisputed possession of that name. 



Although so small these sandpipers are most interesting little sprites. They 

 are usually to be seen running along over the mud at the water's edge, or, taking 

 flight, they wheel and circle in a compact body. 



Greater Yellow-legs. Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin). 



The writer has observed this species but once and that in a small swampy 

 area near Clovis during a heavy downpour, March 30. 1904. One bird flew 

 from near the roadside at my approach and alighted near another that I had not 

 previously seen. Just as it settled to the ground the wings were held above the 

 bird until their tips appeared to touch. As the two birds walked they were con- 

 tinually dipping and bobbing their heads. 



