196 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVIII 
Marila affinis (Eyton). Lesser Scaup Duck. The Lesser Scaup occurs rather un- 
commonly as a winter visitant, usually being encountered as single birds either alone 
or in flocks of other species. Mr. S. L. N. Ellis reports shooting one on October 15, 
1913, on the Herminghaus Ranch at Mendota. 
Charitonetta albeola (Linnaeus). Buffle-head. I have seen a few mounted winter 
specimens of this handsome little duck, hut it does not occur commonly anywhere in 
the Fresno District. The favorite resorts are the large open ponds, similar to those 
chosen by the Ruddy Duck, rather than the narrow sloughs and the tule ponds. 
Chen rossi (Cassin). Ross Snow Goose. This little snow goose, known to hunters 
as “squealer”, is a rather common winter visitant to the open country along the west 
side of the county. It occurs regularly in the region about Firebaugh, but is exceed- 
ingly wary and difficult to approach. Several large flocks were observed near Oxalis, 
January 26, 1916. Their habits seem to differ considerably from those of the Lesser 
Snow Goose. 
Branta canadensis minima Ridgway. Cackling Goose. A specimen of this goose 
in my collection was taken near White’s Bridge, January 11, 1915. This species, in 
common with several other geese, is a regular winter visitant to the open country in 
the western part of the district. In the markets these little geese are often referred 
to as “young honkers”, but the market hunters call them “Brant” or “Black Brant”. 
Herod ias egretta (Gmelin). American Egret. A noticeable increase in the egret 
population of this part of the San Joaquin Valley during the past few years would seem 
to indicate that this handsome species will be able to hold its own against everything 
save the encroachments of agriculture. There is probably a small breeding colony some- 
where in the Laton or Summit Lake region in addition to the one recorded by H. C. 
Bryant in Stanislaus County. December 8, 1914, Mr. S. L. N. Ellis noted thirteen egrets 
near Riverdale. On the 18th of the same month I saw six near the same place, and a 
young man informed me that twelve had been seen flying over the barn on his father’s 
ranch earlier in the day. Hundreds of Night Herons and a great many Ardea herodias 
hyperonca were attracted to the same locality. Throughout the summer, egrets may be 
confidently looked for on the extensive fields of the Herminghaus Ranch near Mendota. 
April 3, 1914, I saw three, and exactly a month later one was approached in an auto to 
within seventy-five yards before it took wing. May 26, 1915, Dr. A. K. Fisher and 
the writer counted seven egrets standing in the over-flowed areas of the field. The 
birds are always exceedingly wary and a man on foot can seldom hope to get nearer 
than three or four hundred yards; yet when flying from their roosting places to their 
feeding grounds egrets fly very low and frequently pass directly over houses or roads. 
Egretta candidissima candidissima (Gmelin). Snowy Egret. Reports from several 
reliable observers agree that the Snowy Heron was a common species throughout suit- 
able areas in Fresno County before the inroads of agriculture had transformed so much 
of the swamp lands into grain and alfalfa fields. They still occur, but in very limited 
numbers, as summer visitants to the region near the confluence of the Fresno Slough 
and the San Joaquin River and in the Firebaugh district. Unlike the larger species 
this egret has shown no noticeable increase of late and seems to be gradually disap- 
pearing. During the years of their abundance, this species often assembled, after the 
breeding season, in flocks of thirty or more individuals. 
Porzana Carolina (Linnaeus). Sora. I have a number of fall, winter, and spring 
records of this rail but have never detected it in mid-summer, although it possibly breeds 
not uncommonly. The numerous telephone and power wires annually prove destructive 
to a great number of rails, coots, gallinules and other night-flying migrants. Mr. H. C. 
Ohl lias a specimen of the Sora picked up from beneath the wires near White’s Bridge 
on September 12,. 1912, and I found another victim near McMullen on April 17, 1914. 
December 3, 1912, I noted a Sora in the slough near Centerville, and December 25, 1914, 
two were seen feeding, late in the afternoon, at a tule pond eight miles southwest of 
Fresno. 
Steganopus tricolor Vieillot. Wilson Phalarope. While driving along the road 
about fifteen miles east of Firebaugh, in Madera County, May 24, 1915, Mr. .1. E. Law 
and I discovered a pair of Wilson Phalaropes near a series of shallow alkaline overflow 
ponds. One of these birds was a male in breeding condition and plumage. Other evi- 
dence, too, seemed to warrant the conclusion that this pair might have been nesting 
nearby. 
