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Nov.,19?0 NESTING NOTES ON AMERICAN EARED AND PIED-BILLED 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 (SPIZLLA BRWRI) IN FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA By JOHN G. TYLER 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 tl'ie 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 hight, 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 altho 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 approacht 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