1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 93 



more woodpecker excavations. At this time none of the birds were carrying 

 nesting material, but in 1908 at least one pair of these swallows had made some 

 progress on their summer home, as early as March 28. They were seen to enter 

 a dead sycamore branch time and again, first carrying a dry twig, then a grass 

 stem, in a most businesslike manner. This instance of what seems to me very 

 early nesting has been recorded in The Condor (xiii, 191 i, p. 168). 



The return flight in the fall has been known to begin as early as September 

 12 (1903), and it continues for nearly a month, as I have a definite record for 

 October 8, 1905. The southward migration is made in a leisurely matter, and 

 often nearly a whole day is spent in circling over a pond of water or an alfalfa 

 field, with occasional perchings on telephone wires. 



I have often thought as I watched one of these iridescent beauties, as it 

 skimmed along over a field or perched on some dead branch, that here at least 

 was a case where the common name was highly appropriate. Were some of 

 our other birds as well named it would not be such a difficult task to answer 

 some of our non-ornithological friends when they ask us why Podasocys mon- 

 la'ius is called "Mountain" Plover! 



Rough-winged Swallow. Stelgidopteryx serripennis (Audubon). 



The steep banks along the San Joac^uin River that afford safe retreats for 

 Rock Wrens and Barn Owls, have seemingly also met the conditions required 

 by this swallow, and each spring finds several small colonies scattered along 

 the bluffs in the vicinity of Lane's Bridge. This species arrives during late 

 March or the first few days in April. They were observed in small numbers April 

 6, 7, and 8, 191 1, when Mr. Grinnell and the writer found them as single in- 

 dividuals circling over the alfalfa fields, or prospecting in pairs along the face of 

 the bluff, where they were seeking nesting sites. 



It probably requires a full month's time after their arrival for the Rough- 

 winged Swallows to complete a nest and begin the duties of incubation, for nest 

 building was still in progress on April 29, 191 1. 



Natural cavities or those excavated by some of the smaller mammals are 

 chosen, but before occupancy they are thoroughly renovated, as is evidenced by 

 the small mounds of dust, leaves and trash that are to be seen below the en- 

 trances to occupied cavities. 



I believe that only in exceptional cases do the birds excavate their own nest 

 cavity, as the hard formation of these banks would seem to make such a task very 

 difficult. Dry leaves, grass stems, and not a few twigs enter into the composi- 

 tion of the nests. These are placed from two to four feet from the entrance, and 

 often several inches above the mouth of the excavation, so there is no possibility 

 of even a driving rain entering their tunnel. 



In the spring migration, and again when they depart in the late summer, it 

 is probable that these swallows follow the course of the river, for some distance 

 at least, as the birds are seldom observed away from the water at any time. 



Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot. 



Although the author has spent the past eleven winters in Fresno County, the 

 presence of Cedar Waxwings has been noted just twice previous to last winter. 

 The first time the birds were seen was on the cold foggy morning of De- 



