1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 71 



together and again in large compact flocks. If the weather is clear they fly at a 

 height of over one hundred feet from the ground, but on foggy mornings they 

 whiz along skimming" just over the surface of the earth, in a flight that is very 

 rapid for blackbirds. At such times they are entirely silent, in surprising contrast 

 to the loose, straggling bands of Bicolors that go creaking along before dark on 

 many a fall evening. 



This species was found breeding on June 8, 1907, in a large clump of rank 

 tules that were growing in about four feet of v/ater in a pond above Letcher. 

 There were some young birds, but in about two hundred nests there were either 

 three or four eggs, Vvith a few sets of five. All appeared uniformlv and very 

 highly incubated. The almost deafening uproar produced by these birds in an 

 attempt to sing rit luassc was heard for two hundred yards and it was tliis won- 

 derful medley of vocal efforts that attracted me from afar, although the tules 

 were concealed by a dense canopy of willows. I have yet to hear the bird that 

 can produce a more unmusical, strident series of notes than a Tricolored Black- 

 bird, and when two or three hundred unite to vociferate in concert, the result ab- 

 solutely defies all description — yet I would willingly listen to them for hours. 

 The very harshness seems to appeal to a bird lover, when more musical bird 

 songs would pass as commonplace. 



Another large breeding colony was encountered on A])ril 30. 1907, about 

 eight miles north of Wheatville. For a more detailed account of the habits of 

 Agclaiiis tricolor the reader is referred to The Condor, ix. 1907, p. 177. 



Western Meadowl.ark. Sturnella neglecta Audubon. 



As our Meadowlark is being made the subject of a special investigation the 

 author will leave the discussion of its economic value to those more competent, 

 and will simply state that this species has, in some manner, fallen into very bad 

 repute with farmers throughout the county, who seem to unite in urging its de- 

 struction. Certain it is that these birds show a marked partiality for newly 

 sprouted grain, especially oats, but to just what extent they damage these crops 

 is a matter as yet not clearly determined. 



In the areas that have been thickly settled this species has decreased in num- 

 bers quite noticeably during the past ten years, but it is still an abundant resi- 

 dent wherever large fields remain, or where grain or alfalfa ranches are to be 

 found. 



Scattered during the summer months in pairs or small companies, this species 

 often assembles late in the fall in quite large flocks. October 10, 1905. just at 

 sundown I witnessed a flight of Meadowlarks unlike anything I had ever seen. 

 A very large flock of these birds, estimated at about one hundred and twenty 

 five, came sweeping in from a half-section of stubble, and settled for just a mo 

 ment in an adjoining vineyard ; then the whole mass arose again and in a com- 

 pact body flew back to the stubble. In every movement this flight was sugges- 

 tive of ducks and the flight resembled a flock of Sprigs coming in from some ir- 

 rigated wheat field, settling for an instant on a pond and then again taking wing. 



While Meadowlarks, no doubt, nest abundantly throughout the valley, I 

 have never been able to find anything like the number of nests that would be ex- 

 pected to exist; but as they are very artfully concealed it requires most careful 

 search to discover them unless the brooding bird is accidentally flushed. 



