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May, 1913 NOTES FROM BUENA VISTA LAKE AND FORT TEJON 117 but those of the Pelicans ranged from carefully made nests of sticks and trash, and large mounds of gravel with a depression in the top, to mere hollows in the earth. Those of conical form are evidently formed by the old bird first squatting on the chosen spot, and drawing gravel up to her by means of her bill until she has collected a pile of it under and around her large enough to suit her fancy. In some cases eggs had not yet been deposited, and many nests held three eggs,--the greatest number found in any nest; but by far the larger proportion held two eggs. The loss in eggs must have been very great as there were a hundred or so scattered promiscuously around the ground. They were in all stages-of in- cubation. We saw no young at this date, though in examining eggs we could frequently hear the young birds peep. A charge of number eight shot easily stopped a bird, when with set wings he came down as if for a dive, but the shock of hitting the ground killed him instantly. Another was only winged and it was curious to see how light a tap on the head was enough to give him his coup de grace. Most of the queer horny protuberances on the bill which thes? birds wear during the nuptial season had been shed, though many still had an inch or so of it loosely attached. As every- one knows who has skinned a Pelican, there is a mass of air cells between the surface skin and the body nearly three quarters of an inch thick which can be inflated at will, and which no doubt accounts for the easy flight and wonderful soaring of this ungainly bird. Their method of securing fish is interesting and almost shows brain work. Just after dark and frequently during the night, loud splashings could be heard. This we found to be caused by the Pelicans forming in line out in the shallows and then starting shorewards with much flapping of wings on the water in order to drive the fish where the water was shoal enough for them to be easily caught by the birds. In fact this is the only method of fishing that they could employ, for the water is neither clear nor deep enough for them to follow such diving tactics as are adopted by P. californicus on our coasts. On one end of the island not occupied by the above two species, several pairs of Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) had set up housekeeping, and they evinced much anxiety as we approached their nests. We did not see any young, but although we did find a few incomplete sets, most of the eggs seemed to be heavily incubated. Another find was a set of three peculiarly marked eggs of the Kil~ deer (Oxyechus vociferus); and although no nest was encountered, several Snowy Plovers (Aegialitis nivosa) in full breeding plumage were trotting about with a knowing air. A mile away on another mud bank were severa! more nests of Avocet, and here was congregated a flock of some thirty immature Bona- parte Gulls (Larus philadelphia). Near here we noted a few California Gulls (Laru? californicus)--some adult, but most in the juvenile plumage. Near the eastern. end of the lake was a little mud islet, scarcely a dozen feet wide and well sheltered by tules, on which we estimated that there were fifteen nests of Avocets and forty of Black-necked Stilts (Hi?nantopus mexicanus). These birds seemed to consider themselves one large family, as many nests con- .rained five, six, seven or eight eggs--the product of more than one female of course, and we even found eggs of both Stilts and Avocets in the same nest. The lake had evidently risen a little, as several nests were awash. The majority of eggs seemed to be far advanced in incubation and no doubt a large number es- caped the rise of water. Our visit aroused great consternation and the Avocets swooped down upon us in true tern fashion, uttering their cry which sounds very similar to that of the Western Gull when disturbed. Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticora?- n. naevi,ts) swarmed in the