Nov., 1910 NESTING NOTES ON AMERICAN EARED AND PIRB-BI PLED GREBES 
193 
.which, so far as we could discern, was entirely snow white. The bird was evidently 
aware of its conspicuous coloration, and was very wild. Several determined efforts 
to secure the specimen were made, but the bird succeeded in keeping out of 
gun range. 
THE BREWER SPARROW ( SPIZELLA. BREWER1 ) IN FRESNO 
COUNTY, CALIFORNIA _ 
By JOHN G. TYLER 
D URING the early part of May, 1906, the writer became aware of the presence 
of one or more small sparrows in a certain vineyard near Clovis, Fresno 
County, California. Their wiry, insect-like song was often heard, generally 
during the early forenoon, as the bird swayed in the breeze far out on a green ten- 
dril of some vine. Any attempt at a near approach would cause the singer to dis- 
appear and remain silent for a few minutes, when it would again appear at some 
distant part of the vineyard. 
The area frequented by these birds was not large, covering only about eight 
acres, but different from other vineyards in the vicinity in having a decided slope 
to the south on one side, the soil being rather coarse and gravelly. Supported by 
stakes averaging about two feet in bight, some of the vines had made a very rank 
growth and formed almost a small thicket in certain places, while in others where 
the growth was not so dense there were more open patches. 
The birds were seen at frequent intervals after their first appearance, but as they 
seemed shy, and other matters claimed the writer’s attention, their identity re- 
mained a matter of dout for some time, until an almost accidental discovery con- 
firmed a rather strong suspicion that had been formed soon after they were 
first noted. 
Shortly before noon on June 4 while passing thru the vineyard a small bird was 
seen to fly apparently from a small vine and after skimming along above the ground 
shrike-fashion for a few feet, disappear in the screen of heavy foliage. Thinking 
this was only the nest of one of the numerous Western Lark Sparrows that were breed- 
ing commonly everywhere, I paused only to note the number of eggs or young 
but was somewhat surprized that a hurried search did not reveal any nest either on 
the ground beneath the vine or among the branches above. So a careful search 
was begun which resulted in the discovery of a very small and remarkably well-bilt 
nest placed directly against the stake and supported by three nearly vertical shoots just 
twenty inches above the ground. Resting in this nest were three green eggs simi- 
lar in size and color to average specimens of the Western Chipping Sparrow, yet 
with a more coarse wreath of heavier markings of a decided reddish brown encir- 
cling the larger end. It required little more than a glance to convince the writer 
that it was not a nest of Spizella passerina arizonce altlio even had it afterwards 
proven to be such it would have been none the less a new record for me 
from Clovis. 
The following day proved to be somewhat warm and cloudy and just at noon I 
cautiously approach! the vine containing the nest discovered the day before and 
very carefully parted the leaves. Sitting quietly on her nest, not two feet from 
my hand, was a small grayish-brown sparrow. The parallel black lines along her 
