118 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XV 
lilies, and their eggs or newly hatched young no doubt figured prominently on 
the menu of many very large repellant looking snakes, which at any time might 
be seen sunning themselves on the broken down tides. 
Great Blue Herons (Ardea li. herodias) were very abundant and wary as 
usual. A single Anthony Green Heron {Bntoridcs v. antlionyi) was seen, and 
on the 9th, three white birds were noted flying far overhead — evidently Egrets 
{Herodias cgretta). The week before, a bird of this species was killed by a pro- 
fessional hunter. 
There were several Caspian Terns {Sterna caspia) about, but they did not 
seem to be interested in any one locality, which was quite the opposite of what 
was expressed by a number of Forster Terns {Sterna forstcri) ; for the latter 
showed great uneasiness whenever we approached the spot where they chanced to 
be fishing. Black Terns ( Hydrocliclidon n. surinaniensis) were numerous, monoto- 
nously flying back and forth over a certain stretch of marsh, but they did not act 
as if they were nesting. 
Between Kern and Buena Vista lakes there are very extensive swamps, ami 
this is evidently a paradise for water fowl, but on account of interrupted sloughs, 
tides, et cetera, it is very difificult to work, and it can only successfully be done with 
the aid of a light canoe. Months could interestingly, jirofitably and uncomfort- 
ably be spent here. A trip up the river to the marshes proved to be a full day’s 
work, and what with frantically rowing against a swift current and wading half 
of the time up to our necks in mud and water, not much collecting was done. 
We found Fulvous Tree-ducks {Dcndrocygna bicolor) and White-faced Glossy 
Ibis {Plcgadis gnaraiina) in some numbers but they did not evince any interest 
in us except to keep well out of range. As far up the river as we went, every 
tree had its full share of Black-crowned Night Heron’s nests, while the grove 
of water-killed trees in the mouth of the river was crowded with their nests and 
those of the Cormorants. IMany Great Blue Herons were perched about ; but 
as to their nesting we cannot say, as we had no desire to climb such unstable 
looking .snags. 
A fact which impressed us was the great scarcity of ducks other than Rud- 
dies {Brisniatnra jainaiccnsis ) . With the exception of these and Fulvous Tree- 
ducks hardly a .score of other individuals were seen at the lake. These were 
straggling Pintails, Shovellers {Spatula clypeafa), and Green-winged Teal {Nct- 
tion carolinense. 
On the iith we started for Fort Tejon, arriving at our camping ground 
among the oaks and beside a pretty little waterfall in time for a full afternoon's 
work. We made good use of this waterfall in removing the alkali of Buena 
Vista. 
Cassin and Western Warbling Vireos (L,anirireo s. cassini and V ireosylva 
g. siuainsoni) and Lazuli Buntings {Passe rina anioena) were especially num- 
erous by the stream, and a number of nests of the latter were located within a 
small space among the weeds. A Black-chinned Hummingbird {Archilochus 
alexandri) had her nest right at our front door and seemed in no way discon- 
certed by our presence. 
Between our camp and the ruins of the Fort was as magnificent a grove of 
giant white oaks as one could wish to see, with undergrowth strongly suggestive 
of an eastern woods. Below, the floor of the canyon is well watered and wooded, 
with oak-studded grassy flats at the sides. In such a favorable spot it is small 
wonder that we found birds to be unusually plentiful both as to species and in- 
dividuals. 
