74 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 9 



Brewer Blackiuru. Euphag'us cyanocephalus (Wagler). 



Probably because the region about Fresno does not offer a sufficient amount 

 of suitable food and the protection of trees in which to nest, the Brewer Black- 

 bird has not been found breeding within the region treated in this work, although 

 it is one of our most common winter visitants. 



The arrival of these birds in the fall has been noted as follows : September 

 20, 1903; September 15, 1904; September 7, 1905; September 16, 1906. Thus 

 this species may be confidently looked for after the first week in September ; af- 

 ter this it gradually becomes more numerous, but the maximum abundance is 

 seldom reached before the first of December. In the spring these blackbirds re- 

 main until nearly the first of May, my latest records being April 30. 1904, and 

 April 29, 191 1 ; but from the first week in March they became noticably scarce. 



Just where these black-coated hosts go during the breeding season is a mat- 

 ter that has not been fully determined. I have found a small colony breeding at 

 Shaver Lake in the Sierras ( Condor, xi, 1909, p. 83), but the great majority must 

 resort to the oaks of the foothill regions. August 9, 1905, I noted quite a number 

 of Brewer Blackbirds above Millerton on the San Joaquin River, some few miles 

 north of Friant. There were also numerous old nests scattered along through 

 the willows, and these nests were much like the usual structures built by this 

 species. 



From what I have been able to observe I think the Brewer Blackbird is a 

 beneficial species, and should not be charged with the destructiveness of which 

 the blackbirds of the genus Agclaius are accused. During the winter and early 

 spring this species has a habit of following a plowman and feeding upon the 

 grubs and worms that are exposed. If the workman walks along without ap- 

 pearing to notice their presence these birds will often follow at a distance of 

 not over two or three feet, each one endeavoring to be the first to seize any un- 

 fortimate grub that comes to light ; but should the plowman turn about or even 

 hesitate for just a second the birds fall back with a questioning "k-chick." 



Open ground, especially summer fallow, is preferred by these birds, and an 

 acre or two of pasture land is their especial delight. Every ranch has a flock that 

 spends the winter feeding about the corrals. 



One spring vast numbers of rose beetles invaded the country about Clovis 

 and after destroying the rose flowers they took to the vineyards, where they did 

 considerable damage to the foliage by boring numerous holes through the leaves, 

 causing them, eventually, to wither and drop oft". Every day for nearly a week 

 a great flock of Brewer Blackbirds hovered over a certain vineyard that I had 

 an excellent opportunity to observe. Crawling over the branches or alighting on 

 the topmost shoots, these black plumaged birds were conspicuous objects against 

 the green of the tender new foliage. As a result of the efforts of the birds, the 

 vineyard was, in a short time, almost entirely free from the beetles. Truly this 

 was a valuable service well worth recording. 



Linnet. Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis (Say). 



After observing the habits of the friendly little Linnet, or House Finch, as 

 this bird is often called, the writer early became convinced that the number of 

 individuals of this species occurring in the Fresno district showed little or no 



