May, 1909 
WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS ON STOVER MOUNTAIN 
81 
always numerous, and conspicuous among them were several partial albinos. 
Black Plioebes ( Sayornis nigricans) and Ash-throated Flycatchers ( Myiarchns 
cmerascens ) make their homes in an old lime kiln. California Bush-tits ( Psaltri - 
pants minimus calif arnicas) and Black-tailed Gnatcatchers ( Polioptila califor- 
nica ) are sometimes seen in the brush; and a frightened Road-runner ( Geococcyx 
calif ornianus) occasionally appears. The high rocks serve as good lookout points 
for stray hawks that happen to pass by that way. In the early days the Turkey 
Vultures ( Cathartes aura sep ten tnona lis ) made their homes on this old peak but 
now they only soar around the hill as if to inspect the work of man. Of course 
hummingbirds and other birds found in the valley are found at the base of the 
mountain. 
Spring is now here again and as I write these notes I feel the longing to visit 
the birds in their haunts and I am hoping that I may secure some more informa- 
tion concerning the White-throated Swifts on Slover Mountain. 
Colton , California ; March /, igog. 
SOME NOTES FROM FRESNO COUNTY, CAEIFORNIA 
By JOHN G. TYLER 
T HE Pigmy Nuthatch ( Sitta pygmcca ) is not an uncommon bird in the Sierra 
Nevada Mountains of this county, but only once during the past eight years 
has the writer noted its presence here in the San Joaquin Valley. 
About two miles south of Clovis is an irrigation canal locally known as the 
Gould Ditch. Numerous ragged old willows and occasionally a cottonwood are 
found along the banks, sometimes close together and in other places farther apart 
but forming practically the only large trees to be found in the immediate vicinity 
in any numbers. Among this double fringe of trees, with water and good feeding 
grounds near at hand, many of our birds find suitable nesting places, and here 
during migration one stands the best chance of seeing some straggler from other 
regions. 
On the first day of November, 1903, wdiile making my way along this canal a 
Pigmy Nuthatch was seen working over a large cottonwood tree. When first ob- 
served the bird was about fifteen feet from the ground and upon seeing me it 
dodged behind the tree for a moment giving me a chance to approach unobserved, 
an opportunity that I quickly took advantage of, finally pausing not over eight feet 
from the base of the tree and remaining motionless. Soon the bird appeared again 
working around the tree in a sort of spiral fashion, head downward. Nearly half 
an hour was spent in watching this little visitor from the Sierras in its search for 
food. So long as I remained quiet it seemingly did not notice my presence, but a 
sudden movement would cause it to fly to the upper branches only to begin again 
its up-hill downward climb evidently not having exhausted the food possibilities of 
that tree; and when I finally went away it was still at work. 
The town of Clovis can boast of an elevation of about 340 feet and the near- 
est foot-hills with their scattering oaks are at least ten miles away, while the 
heavier timber such as this species generally frequents is not nearer than twice that 
distance; so the little slate-colored nuthatch seemed to have wandered far from its 
usual haunts. 
