General Notes. 
55 
Habits of Vaux’s Swift. — During the past season I had an un- 
usually favorable opportunity for observing the habits of Chcetura vauxi 
during the breeding season, or rather the mating season, for at the time of 
my observations they had not yet commenced to breed. Having learned 
that some Water Ouzels were to be found in a small stream that has its 
source in the numerous gulches of Mt. Tamalpias, situated in the township 
of San Rafael, Cal., I started, in company with a friend, early on the morn- 
ing of May 2 of the present season (1879). We reached, after two hours of 
rough riding, the banks of Laganitas Creek, where we expected to find 
the Water Ouzels. The first birds that we met, however, were a small 
flock of Violet-green Swallows. Dismounting and picketing our horses, 
we commenced shooting these beautiful Swallows, which were now in per- 
fect plumage. While engaged in this work, suddenly a Vaux’s Swift 
made its appearance among the now frightened Swallows, which were 
circling around high overhead, and drifting down the valley of the stream, 
which lay between high mountains. We followed on, clambering over 
rocks and going around falls and rapids, until, about a mile and a half from 
the scene of our first operation, we found an open valley of some two hun- 
dred acres in extent. And such a sight ! It was fairly swarming with 
Violet-green Swallows, which were so fearless that they would approach 
us so closely that we could easily see their black, sparkling little eyes. 
Having shot all these that we cared to, and being on the watch for the 
Swifts, we soon discovered them higher up on the sides of the moun- 
tains, to which we soon climbed, and took stations on the most prominent 
points in order to get favorable shots, as they came darting by with 
the rapidity of lightning. It was not long before we had opportunities to 
shoot, and brought down two or three, but found it a much more difficult 
matter than shooting the Swallows, on account of the great height and 
rapidity of their flight. To show the difference, I may state that in seven 
consecutive shots I brought down six Violet-greens, and out of fifteen 
shots I got only four Swifts. 
These Swifts appear to me to differ in their habits from the Eastern 
bird, O. pelasgia. They do not utter the sharp, rattling chipper of that 
species, but have a weak, lisping note, which is, as near as I can imitate 
it, cliip-chip-chip-cheweet-cheweet, and this is only to be heard during the 
pairing season, when two, probably the male and female, are chasing each 
other. I have never seen them circling about in threes and fives, in the man- 
ner of C. pelasgia , nor have I ever seen more than two together. Although 
as many as forty or fifty may be in sight at once, each pair or individual 
seems to keep aloof from the others. After the nesting season has begun they 
are to be seen only early in the morning, or till about nine o’clock, when they 
disappear to reappear again about an hour before dusk, though, should the 
day be overcast, they may be seen at nearly all hours of the day, as is the 
case during the pairing season, and also during the fall migration. They 
are to be found only on the highest hills or mountains, where there are.. 
