1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 87 



names of birds as set forth in the A. O. U. Check-List. After we have spent 

 years in teaching a none-too-wilHng subject that a certain shy, gay-plumagecl 

 bird is a "Spurred Towhee", it is disheartening to have to inform our pupil that 

 this same bird has suddenly discarded its well-earned name and must now be 

 called "San Diego Towhee." Any explanation that we offer is sure to be met with 

 some such response as "Well, what the deuce to you want to call it a San Diego 

 Towhee for, anyway, when it is just as common in Fresno as it is down there?" 

 Now, it must not be understood that the writer would attempt to criticise the 

 Committee that labored so earnestly to produce the new Check-List, but it does 

 here seem justifiable to retain "Spurred Towhee" rather than to adopt the name 

 "San Diego Towhee" proposed by them. 



Nowhere in the immediate vicinity of Fresno has this handsome species been 

 found breeding, but Mr. Chas. E. Jenney has found one or two nests along the 

 San Joaquin River, and a pair of birds were located by the author in a thick 

 growth of nettles and willow brush in the river bottom near Lane's Bridge, April 

 29, 191 1. 



Few of these towhees are to be found at our low elevation during the nest- 

 ing season, but in October they begin to appear, and gradually become more com- 

 mon from that time on. Through all the winter months they are present in great- 

 er numbers than their shy, retiring habits would seem to indicate. Their favorite 

 resorts are the brush piles and thickets, at the edges of vineyards and along ditch- 

 es, where there is always some protecting heap of brush. At the least disturbance 

 the birds dive into these brush heaps, from which their single harsh note is some- 

 times heard, although the elusive owner of that catlike voice may not permit us 

 even a glimpse of his handsome black, white and orange coat. 



If the spring is late the vSpuri-ed Towhees remain until several of April's best 

 days have gone, especially if there is a cold, rainy period during the preceding 

 month. When, as frequently happens, March brings along a succession of bright, 

 warm, cloudless days, the desire to return again to their summer homes in the 

 mountains becomes too strong ; and before we are aware of the fact the Spurred 

 Towhee is no longer present in the valley. 



Black-headed Grosbeak. Zamelodia melanocephala (Swainson). 



Black-headed Grosbeaks occur sparingly in the spring along some of the 

 larger ditches, among the willows in the river bottoms, and wherever in the valley 

 a half apology for timber is to be found. 



Nearly all of the few that I have observed were males in most brilliant plu- 

 mage ; and I have generally been attracted by the loud rich song, which always 

 brings to memory my boyhood days, spent so pleasantly in the Tehachapi Moun- 

 tains. 



Grosbeaks — a single male in each case — have been noted as follows: in the 

 willow swamp near Sunnyside, April 22, 1906; in a willow thicket on the Gould 

 ditch near Tarpey, June T2, 1910; and near Lane's Bridge, on the San Joaquin 

 River, April 29, k^ii. T am informed on good authority that they occasionally 

 nest at the last mentioned place. 



The spring of 1912 was remarkable for the unusual number of grosbeaks 

 that ai^pcared in all parts of the valley. Late in April and during the first half 



