May, 1909 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS ON SLOVER MOUNTAIN 81 always numerous, and conspicuous among them were several partial albinos. Black Phoebes (Xayornis m?ricans) and Ash-throated Flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens) make their homes in an old lime kiln. California Bush-tits (Psalt, ri- parus miniruns californicus) and Black-tailed Gnatcatchers (Polioptila califor- nica) are sometimes seen in the brush; and a frightened Road-runner (Geococcyx californianus) 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 septentmonalis) 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 z, z9o9. SOME NOTES FROM FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA By JOHN G. TYLER HE Pigmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmma) 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 ra. gged 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, while 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.
