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196 THE CONDOR VoL. X This peculiar condition so far as I can ascertain does not exist on any of the other streams flowing from the mountains out onto the plains, and its cause can only be accurately ascertained by an exhaustive study of the vegetation, climate, and other conditions upon which faunal distribution depends.--R. B. ROCKWELL.'] lr)enver, Colorado. NOTES FROM BUENA VISTA LAKE, MAY 20 TO JUNE 16, 1907 By C. B. LINTON UENA Vista Lake is about thirty miles southwest of Bakersfield, Kern County, California; it is twelve miles long by eight miles wide and very shallow. There is no vegetation along the southern and western shores ex- cepting here and there a patch of salt or devil-grass; on the north for several miles is a stretch of alkaline desert with an occasional patch of mesquite and sage. At the northeast corner where the Kern River empties into the lake (and where is also the outlet, the mouth of the Kern River and the Lake outlet being separated only by a narrow levee) is found an abundant growth of tules and willows, the latter bor- dering the Kern River in dense thickets and groves for miles. About two and one-half miles from the lake, along the river, is quite an extensive marsh caused by the overflow of the river during the winter months., It is near this marsh and in the vicinity of the mouth of the river that all collecting was done, small canoes be- ing used for transportation. In the limited time at my disposal here, very little could be done, the field being a little too large for one nmn to work in so short a time. ?chmophorus occidentalis. Western Grebe. Common on the lake. Would undoubtedly have bred, had not the plume hunters been present. Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. Fairly common in the lake and river marshes. Breeding. Larus californicus. California Gull. Several i?nmature Gulls were seen about the take, probably this species. Sterna caspia. ' Caspian Tern. Two seem One secured, May 26, in Kern River marsh. Sterna forsteri. Forster Tern. Fairly common near breeding colony of Black Terns. None found breeding. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. American Black Tern. Large colony nesting in river marsh. Phalacrocorax auritus albociliatus. Fatallone Cormorant. Breeding in im- mense numbers in the partly submerged willow trees in the lake; two to six nests to the tree was the rule. Fully fledged young and fresh eggs were found in late May. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. American White Pelican. Two large colonies were visited; one of about 250 nests, on a small sandy island in the river mouth; the other of perhaps 500 nests, on the lake shore. The nests of the latter colony were mostly well constructed of tules and marsh grass covering about two acres. The nests on the island were merely holes scooped in the sand. Nettion carolineuse. Green-winged Teal. Several seen. Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. Fairly common. Breeding. Fresh sets and young noted in late May.