1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 37 



the others that there appeared to be a difference in shell texture. April 22, 1908, 

 a dove was found occupying what was undoubtedly the remains of an old, aban- 

 doned nest of a mockingbird relined with just a few dry, brown rootlets, upon 

 which rested a single egg far advanced in incubation, as was evidenced by its 

 dark color. There was nothing to indicate that a second egg had ever been de- 

 posited, and the unusual depth of that nest seemed to preclude the possibility of 

 an egg having rolled out, so that it is probable that in that case only a single egg 

 was ever produced. 



The dove, whether observed walking quietly across the road in the soft light 

 of early morning, dropping into a canyon to drink from a water hole, or swiftly 

 winging its way to roost in the willow fringe along some canal, always displays 

 a quiet grace of manner that makes it an attractive bird under all conditions, and 

 one that it seems a pity to kill for the small morsel of flesh it affords, or for the 

 mere pleasure of shooting something. 



California Condor. Gymnogyps californianus (Shaw). 



This great bird was no doubt common at one tim.e on the plains along the 

 western side of the county; but that day has passed, probably forever. Resi- 

 dents of the district along the eastern slopes of the Coast Range mountains and 

 on the plains inform me that even yet one of these birds is sometimes seen, but 

 the species must be considered very rare at the present time. 



Personally, the author has seen just one Condor in Fresno County and that 

 was during July, 1900. This was while I was staying for a few days at a ranch 

 house some six or eight miles north of Wheatville. The Condor flew over at a 

 distance of at least three hundred yards above the earth; but a familiarity witii 

 this bird's appearance, gained among the Tehachapi Mountains during boyhood 

 days, rendered it recognizable at a glance. Upon calling the attention of a man 

 who was working nearby, to the Condor, he informed me that it was '"a vulture 

 but not a turkey buzzard". He also stated that one had been shot near there 

 during the preceding winter. 



Miss Winifred Wear tells of seeing, near Friant, as late as last March 

 {1911) what she was certain could have been nothing less than a Condor. The 

 bird was perched on the ground near the railroad and took wing at the approach 

 of the train. This record would place the bird well into the Sierra Nevada foot- 

 hills. 



Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura septentrionalis Wied. 



Of all the birds that I have ever had the privilege of observing none has in- 

 terested me more than the Turkey Vulture. There are many questions concern- 

 ing him that I have never been able to answer. As he pursues his way silently 

 over hills and fields there seems a sort of mystery about his very silence. 



There are records of the occurrence of this species during every month of 

 the year, but they are noticeably scarce during December and January. My rec- 

 ords for those two months show that buzzards were nearly always seen during 

 stormy weather and especially during showers. Possibly this may be accounted 

 for by the fact that in rainy weather the buzzard prefers, or is compelled, to fly 

 near the ground and thus becomes more conspicuous. 



There are three places in this part of the state where Turkey Vultures are 



