May, 1911 
PROM FIELD AND STUDY 
111 
females. It should be emphasized that these three song sparrows were the only ones found in 
the Earliiiiart neighborhood, and that the reservoir referred to (on the Moore ranch) was the 
only bit of favorable environment within a radius of at least three miles. 
Forbtish Sparrow {Melospiza lincolni striata). Four specimens quite typical of this form 
were shot at a marshy place in the San Joaquin river bottom near Lane Bridge, ifresno County, 
April 9 and 10. Tyler (Condor xiii, March 1911, p. 76) has already recorded this sparrow from 
the Fresno district, but as found in December. 
Barn Swallow (Hirundo erylhrogastra) . A pair seen by both Mr. Tyler and myself on a 
telephone wire over a bridge near Fresno March 15. Doubtless the same pair was seen in the 
same place April 6. The former date appears to be the earliest on record for the arrival of this 
swallow within the State. Mr. Tyler tells me that very many Barn Swallows nest in Fresno 
County; and I found a pair nesting near Tipton, Tulare County, April 24. 
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) . On March 11 I saw a male of this species among some 
valley oaks five miles northeast of Tracy, San Joaquin County. The bird was staying around 
clumps of mistletoe, which plant infested many of the oaks at this point. I also heard notes of 
Phainopeplas in the distance, though only the one individual was located; so it is not improbable 
that the occurrence was more than casual at this time and place. 1 saw a male of this species in 
the foothills at Raymond, Madera County, April 16. 
California Shrike (Lanius ludoviciatius gambeli) . A nest of this species was observed near 
Pixley, Tulare County, April 29, containing seven well-incubated eggs. The notable feature of 
this nest was the site selected. The region is well-nigh tree-less, hence those birds under natural 
conditions selecting trees for nesting places and at the same time determined to remain in the 
region are compelled to resort to unusual sites for their nests. All through the valley, begin- 
ning April 20, the Western Kingbirds were building nests on telegraph poles and fence posts. 
The pair of shrikes in question had constructed their nest on top of one of the posts of a fence 
paralleling the county road where autos and other vehicles were constantly passing. The nest 
was sheltered by two boards converging overhead and nailed to the fence post vertically for the 
support of a telephone wire. The nest was typically constructed, the outer portion of an inter- 
laced mass of stiff twigs flaring out broadly on the two unsheltered sides. To express it other- 
wise the nest was so firmly wedged between the two boards that it could not have been removed 
except by tearing it to pieces or removing the boards. In spite of its -conspicuous position the 
venture gave promise of success. 
C&liiorni&'L.e&stVireo (Vireo belli pusMus). At Lane Bridge, ten miles north of Fresno, 
this bird had already arrived April 7. Several were heard or seen in the willow association along 
the Fresno County side of the San Joaquin River. Mr. Tyler says the species nests in the Fresno 
district. 
Dotted Canyon Wren [Catherpes mexicanus punctulatus) . There being no canyons or even 
steep-sided ravines, at Raymond, Madera County, the presence of the Canyon Wren was rather 
unexpected there. However the otherwise smoothe and rounded foothills were marred by many 
low projecting ledges and bowlder-piles. These evidently formed congenial and productive for- 
age ground, though the two pairs of wrens discovered had each established headquarters in places 
of human construction — one in an abandoned cabin, the other in a granite quarry. 
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) . Abundant on the newly sprouted grain fields 
around Tracy, San Joaquin County, the second week in March. This species was reported from 
several quarters as much more numerous than usual the past winter on the floor of the valley. — 
J. Grinnedd. 
An Albino. — 1 have noticed two albino English Sparrows {Passer domesticus) lately. One 
specimen was a dirty gray, and the other, which I have seen several times, is pinkish cinnamon, 
with snow white tail and primaries. — W. E. Ungdish. 
■ The Bohemian Waxwieg in Sacramento County, California. — That there has been a gen- 
eral visitation by this species to this state the past season is further indicated by the following 
record: Mr. W. H. Noble, of Galt, Sacramento County, California, sent to the Museum of Verte- 
brate Zoology a specimen (now no. 17210) of Bombycilla garrula taken at that place March 14, 
1911.— J. Grinnedd. 
