RUDDY DUCK (Erismatura rubida)THE RUDDY DUCK, OR WIRE-TAIL(Erismatura rubida)The ruddy duck is a very common duck on our shooting grounds, from one end to the other, though as a rule it is not much sought after by our sportsmen. When feeding on the salt marshes they are not very palatable, it is true, but when killed on fresh waters they are one of our finest flavored ducks, if properly cooked. After refusing many shots at these little ducks and even many times failing to carry home those I did kill, it remained for Mr. Babcock, then of the Coronado Hotel, of San Diego, California, to demonstrate to me the real value of the ruddy duck. I was one of the party shooting with him on his preserve at Otay dam. When we came into the house after our morning's shoot, a most enjoyable one, he asked each member of the party what kind of duck he wished for his dinner. Mallards, canvasbacks, sprigs and widgeons had been named, so when he came to me I answered that any kind would do me. To this he replied: "Then you shall have one of my favorites." When dinner was ready, before each plate was a beautifully roasted duck of the species chosen by the member of the party for whom that plate was laid, but the plates in front of Mr. Babcock and myself each contained two plump little birds that I did not recognize in their undress uniform. After I had tasted of one, Mr. Babcock asked: "How do you like my selection?" "Very much," I answered, "but what are they? I never ate anything better." "The much despised ruddy," was his reply, "the superior of the canvasback when properly handled." The best evidence that I fully endorsed all that he claimed for the ruddy duck is the fact that there was nothing left of my two birds but well-picked bones. The ruddy duck may well be called a resident species over the whole of the Pacific Coast shooting grounds, for they breed not only on the lakes and streams, but on the lower marshes as well, throughout the whole territory.The ruddy duck is known by a number of names such as "wire tail," "dipper," "bullet-head," "buffle-head," etc.Color—Male—Top of head, dark brown; sides of head below the eye, dirty white; upper parts, brown; no speculum on the wing; axillars, very light gray with light brown shafts; tail, broad and stiff with the feathers pointed; under parts, dirty white.Female—Much the color of the male, but more of a dirty brown. Side of the head and throat, dirty gray.Nest and Eggs—The nests are usually built on little hillocks in the marshes, and contain from six to eight dirty white eggs.Measurements—The ruddy is a small duck with a very rounded body. Total length, about 15 inches; wing, 6, and bill, 11/2inches, strongly depressed in the center.[Pg 84]AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE (Glaucionetta clangula americana)THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE(Glaucionetta clangula americana)The American golden-eye is a visitor from the far north to the northern portions of the territory covered by this work. An occasional straggler is killed as far south as San Francisco, but they are a cold country bird. They are more common in the interior of Washington and Oregon than along the coast.Color—Male—Head and upper half of neck, dark green with a metallic sheen; a nearly round patch of white between the eye and the base of the bill; lower part of neck, most of the back and the under parts, white; upper part of the back, rump and tail, black; wings, mostly white.Female—Head and upper neck, brown; gray spot at the base of the bill; breast and under parts, gray; back and most of the wings, brownish black.Nest and Eggs—The nest is usually built in a hollow tree or stump and contains about ten eggs of a bluish white color.Measurements—Total length, about 19 inches; wing, 9, and bill, 17/8. Female about one-tenth smaller.[Pg 90]BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE (Glaucionetta ilandica)BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE(Glaucionetta ilandica)Barrow's golden-eye is another duck that is seen, but little within the Pacific Coast hunting grounds, and only then near the coast sections of the northern part. They are found more plentiful on the islands along the north Pacific coast.Color—The male resembles the American golden-eye very closely, except that the head of the Barrow's is more of a purple, or greenish purple. The white at the base of the bill is also different, it being a crescent shape instead of round.The female differs in the head being more of a cinnamon brown, and the back more of a gray and slightly mottled with brown.Nest, Eggs and Measurements—The same as the American golden-eye.[Pg 86]BUTTER-BALL (Charitonetta albeola)THE BUTTER-BALL(Charitonetta albeola)The butter-ball, or buffle-head, is another common duck all over the country. But where we have so many larger and better ducks they are little sought for, and are generally considered poor shooting. Yet I recall one occasion when with a friend I was shooting on a couple of foothill ponds where many of these little ducks had congregated, they furnished us with fine sport. The larger ducks were soon scared away, but the little butter-balls would not leave. One of us was stationed at each pond and we soon had them all in the air.Color—Male—Head, greenish purple, with a strong metallic luster; white patch running from the eye to the back of the head; feathers of the head long, forming a crest; back, black; under parts white and a broad white patch on the wing.Female—The female is a very modestly colored bird to have so gaudy a mate. Head and upper parts, a dark, dead brown; under parts, white; speculum, white; a small, elongated white spot on the side of the head.Nest and Eggs—The nest is usually built on some elevation such as a stump or log; some times in a tree. The eggs, numbering eight to ten, are of a pale buff color.Measurements—Total length, 11 to 121/2inches; wing, about 6, and bill, 1 inch.THE OLD SQUAW, OR LONG-TAILED DUCK(Clangula hyemalis)The old squaw, or long-tailed duck, comes but little into California, though a few are killed each year in Washington and Oregon. I killed one several years ago as far south as Los Angeles county, California, the only one I have ever known to get that far away from his northern home.Color—Male—As the winter plumage is the only garb that one of this species will be seen in on these hunting grounds, I will only mention it. Head, white, with a patch of brownish black on the side of the head and side of the neck; breast, black, continuing over the back; belly, white; wings, white; a band of yellow across the bill; central tail feathers, black and very long.Female—Head, white, with a dark patch on the top and on the side; breast and back, smoky black; under parts, white; no long feathers in the tail.[Pg 88]HARLEQUIN DUCK (Histrionicus histrionicus)THE HARLEQUIN DUCK(Histrionicus histrionicus)The harlequin duck is a northern bird that comes but little into the United States on either coast. A few stragglers are met with in Oregon and Washington, and an occasional one is killed in California. These and the old squaw add a pleasing variety to our mounted collections, but nothing to our sport.Color—The accompanying illustration is the best description of this duck that can be given, as the colors are white and a brownish black. It is about the size of the widgeon.[Pg 91]WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Oidemia deglandi)THE SCOTERS(Oidemia deglandi—Oidemia americana)The scoters, or coots, as they are called on the Atlantic coast, are all found on this coast southward to Mexico. Of these the white-winged scoter (Oidemia deglandi) is the most common, being found in large numbers on all the bays and inlets of the coast as far south as the Magdalena bay, Lower California.Order, ANSERESFamily, ANATIDAE Subfamily, FULIGULINAE.(Bay and sea ducks)GenusSpeciesCommon NamesRange and Breeding GroundsAythyaleft bracevallisneriaCanvasbackleft braceFrom Northern Mexico north. Breeds on the higher lakes from Eastern Oregon to the Arctic.americanaRed-headleft braceFrom Central Mexico north. Breeds on the interior lakes from Eastern Oregon north.nearticaAmerican scaupBlue-billBlack-jackleft braceFrom Central California north. Breeds on the interior lakes from Washington north.affinisLesser scaupBlue-billBlack-jackleft braceFrom northern Mexico north. Breeds on the interior lakes from Washington north to the Arctic.collarisRing-neckBlack-jackleft braceFrom Central California north. More common on fresh waters. Breeds on the interior lakes from Oregon to the Arctic.Glaucionettaleft braceamericanaAmerican golden-eyeleft braceRare south of Oregon. Breeds from northern Washington north.islandicaBarrows golden-eyeleft braceVery rare south of Puget Sound. Found only along the coast. Breed on the Aleutian Islands and Alaska north.Charitonettaalbeolaleft braceBuffle-headButter-ballleft braceFrom Central Mexican coast north. Breeds along the coast from Washington north.Erismaturarubidaleft braceRuddy duckWire-tailleft braceFrom Central Mexico north. Breeds on the mountain lakes throughout its range.Oidemialeft braceamericanaleft braceAmericas scoterBlack cootleft braceFrom the Lower California coast north. Breeds on the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska coast.deglandileft braceWhite-winged scoterWhite-winged cootleft braceFrom the Lower California coast north. Breeds on the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska coast.THE GEESE OF THE PACIFIC COASTThe hunting grounds of the Pacific Coast have a greater variety of geese than any other section of America. Here are to be found every species known to the Eastern states, except the barnacle brant of the Atlantic. But in return for the absence of this species of sea brant we have the black sea brant, the white-cheeked goose, the ross goose, the emperor goose (none of which are found east of the Rocky Mountains) and the hutchins goose, the lesser snow goose, the white-fronted goose and the little brown brant, which are only stragglers east of the Mississippi valley, and only sparingly seen that far east. Thus it will be seen that within the Pacific Coast hunting grounds there are four genera and nine species of the goose family. All of these are found in the northern parts of these hunting grounds, but only about one-half of them visit the southern parts. Increased areas of cultivation, the drainage of vast sections of marshy lands and the absence of laws for their protection have greatly reduced the once wonderful supply.Acres of geese sounds fabulous, yet miles of geese is the only expression which conveys an adequate idea of the wonderful numbers in which these birds were seen on the Coast half a century ago. The great majority of the geese of the Coast at that time were of the white varieties, and it is a veritable fact that in California, and especially in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Los Angeles valleys, these geese congregated during the winter months in such numbers as to whiten the plains for miles. Many flocks of honkers were mixed with them, as well as some of the other darker varieties. These darker species of the family, however, were far more plentiful in the northern parts of the State than in the southern. That part of the Sacramento valley known as the Maine Prairies has always been a favorite feeding place for the Canada goose and its subspecies.[Pg 94]CANADA GOOSE(Branta canadensis)BROWN BRANT(Branta minima)THE CANADA GOOSE, OR HONKER(Branta canadensis)The Canada goose, or honker as it is commonly called, was and is quite common on the Coast. This goose, the largest of the Americans, has a wide distribution, ranging from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Arctic to Central America. They breed as far south as southern Oregon, at any rate, and possibly on the higher mountain lakes as far south as Mexico, for they seem to make their appearance on the Coast shooting grounds of Mexico nearly, if not quite, as early as they do here.The flesh of the Canada goose is the equal if not the superior of the tame goose. Its flight, except when migrating long distances, is generally low, and in such cases it can be called by the hunter to within shooting distance.Color—Head and neck, black, with a white stripe running from the chin back of the eye to near the top of the head; upper parts, dark brownish gray; breast, dull, light gray, grading into white at the abdomen; tail and wings, black. Both sexes alike.Eggs and Nest—The nest is generally built of sticks and grass, lined with feathers, and either in the marshes or on the banks of a stream, and rarely if ever contain more than six or seven, and often not more than four, eggs of a very light brownish white.Measurements—Wing, about 19 inches; bill, about 13/4inches.[Pg 96]WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE (Branta canadensis occidentalis)THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE(Branta canadensis occidentalis)The white-cheeked goose, known also as Mexican goose, is found only on the Pacific Coast and never east of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon, or the Sierra Nevadas in California. In fact, they are generally confined to localities not far from the ocean. While both the honker and the Hutchins goose have a white cheek, the white of the honker meets under the chin or blends into a gray, but the white of the white-cheeked variety is separated either with a distinct black stripe under the chin or a mottled black and white one. Also the black of the neck of the white-cheeked goose and the brownish gray of the breast is very generally separated by a white collar, though sometimes this is so faint as to be almost indistinguishable.The white-cheeked goose is rarely seen south of Monterey Bay, California.Color—Same as the Canada goose, except that the white on the cheeks is either separated under the chin by a black stripe or by only a very few white feathers in the black. Between the neck and the dull gray of the breast is a narrow white stripe, or collar. This some times is very faint, and, in fact, some times, though very rarely, absent. This absence of the collar is quite likely caused by its inter-grading with the Hutchins goose.Nest and Eggs—The same as the Canada goose.Measurements—Wing, never more than 16 inches; bill, not more than 11/4inches.THE HUTCHINS GOOSE(Branta canadensis hutchinsii)We have on the Pacific Coast four varieties of theBranta canadensis, or that species to which belongs the Canada goose, all resembling each other closely except in size. Two of these species are generally considered honkers by most of our sportsmen, while others have two or three local names for them, among which are Mexican goose and Lower California goose. The fact is that while the Canada goose is quite common on the coasts of Mexico, neither the Hutchins goose nor the white-cheeked goose migrate that far south.The Hutchins goose so closely resembles the Canada goose, or honker as it is popularly called, that it is principally distinguished by its smaller size and a considerable difference in the call. The Hutchins goose ranges as far east as the Mississippi valley, and on the Pacific Coast south only to about Santa Barbara county, California. This is one of the two varieties that is given the local names of Mexican and Lower California goose.Color—Same as the Canada goose, from which it is only distinguished by its smaller size and a considerable difference in its call.Nest and Eggs—Same as the Canada goose.Measurements—Wing, not more than 17 inches; bill, 11/2inches.THE CACKLING GOOSE, OR BROWN BRANT(Branta canadensis minima)The cackling goose, known also as brown brant and gray brant, is the most common of the four varieties and much the smallest. (See illustration.) Its markings are the same as the Canada goose, but its under parts are somewhat darker. While in total length it is fully half that of the honker, in weight it is not more than one-third. The cackling geese are commonly found in flocks of the white geese, both in their feeding and their migrations. This species ranges east as far as the Mississippi valley and south on the Coast as far as the mouth of the Colorado river and to some extent into Lower California. It is more numerous than any other of the dark colored geese of the Pacific Coast.Color—The same as the Canada goose, with the exception that it is a little darker on the under parts.Nest and Eggs—The same as the Canada goose, but the eggs number as high as ten.Measurements—Wing, 13 to 141/2inches; bill, from one to one and one-eighth.[Pg 98]LESSER SNOW GOOSE(Chen hyperborea)ROSS GOOSE(Chen rossii)THE SNOW GOOSE, OR WHITE GOOSE(Chen hyperborea)The lesser snow geese, commonly called white geese, are the larger of the two species of white geese so numerous on the Coast. They not only feed, but migrate in great flocks, and these migrations often take place at night when their sharp cries will be heard high in the air. The lesser snow goose is found as far east as the Mississippi valley and south on the Pacific Coast to San Diego. Occasionally a few are seen at Ensenada and the valley of the Palms in Lower California. The meat is tough and poor in flavor and, therefore, they are hunted but little except by the market hunters, who, somehow, succeed in selling a good number of them to the uninitiated.Color—Pure white, with black bill and legs; the primaries, or long feathers of the wings, are black.Nest and Eggs—The nests are made close to the water's edge and contain about ten dirty white eggs.Measurements—Wing, about 16 inches; bill, 21/4inches.THE ROSS GOOSE, OR LITTLE WHITE GOOSE(Chen rossii)The Ross goose has been given the name of China goose by many who wanted some distinguishing nomenclature for them, when in fact the Ross goose is purely an American Pacific Coast bird. Like the snow goose it is pure white with black primary plumes. Young birds of both species are occasionally seen in the early part of the season more or less mottled on the breast with yellowish gray feathers. The Ross goose is only about half the size of the snow goose. Aside from this it can always be known by the warty appearance of the upper half of the bill. They are commonly seen, both in feeding and in their migrations, mixed in the flocks of the snow geese. Occasionally they are seen as far east as Utah and Montana, but only in small numbers.The Ross goose migrates as far south as Central Mexico, great numbers of them congregating on Lake Chapala, in the state of Jalisco.Color—Same as the snow goose.Measurements—Wing, about 14 inches; bill, 21/4, with warty excresences on the upper part.[Pg 100]WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, OR SPECKLE-BREAST (Anser albifrons gambeli)WHITE FRONTED GOOSE(Anser albifrons gambeli)The white-fronted goose, or speckle-breast as it is commonly called, is quite common on the Coast south to Mexico, where great numbers congregate on Lake Chapala, Jalisco. This is another western species, though ranging to some extent as far east as the Mississippi valley and an occasional flock wanders even to the Atlantic coast. The breasts of the old birds are commonly profusely speckled with black feathers. The white-fronted goose is a little more exclusive in its habits than any of the others named, being generally found in flocks by themselves. As a table bird the meat is quite palatable, and large numbers are sold in the markets.Color—Head, grayish brown, with a white spot at the junction of the bill, but this is absent from the young birds; neck, lighter, shading into white or dull white on the breast, mottled with black; back, ashy gray, edged with brown; shafts of the quills, white; bill and legs, light pink.Nest and Eggs—The nest is usually well made and lined with feathers and down. The eggs number about seven or eight, and are of a pale greenish white.Measurements—Wing, 16 inches; bill, 2 inches.[Pg 102]EMPEROR GOOSE (Philacte canagica)THE EMPEROR GOOSE(Philacte canagica)The Emperor goose is a north Pacific species, breeding principally on the islands of the Alaska coast. The great majority of these birds winter well to the north of us, though a number venture southward into California to Humboldt bay and even south of that. A small flock or two is seen almost every winter on the marshes near San Francisco. A close watch of the markets will reveal one or two offered for sale almost every winter.Color—Head and back of neck, white; throat, brownish gray, shading into light gray on the breast and abdomen; back, a little darker; the feathers being gray, tipped with lighter gray, with a sub-terminal band of brownish gray; legs, flesh color.Nest and Eggs—The nests are usually found on the small islands of the salt marshes, and contain eight to ten eggs of a dull white color.Measurements—Wing, about 151/2inches; bill, 11/2inches.[Pg 104]BLACK SEA BRANT (Branta nigricans)THE BLACK SEA BRANT(Branta nigricans)The black sea brant is another purely Pacific Coast species, found nowhere else except as a straggler. They resemble the barnacle brant of the Atlantic (Branta barnicla) except in the shape of the head and bill. A differing characteristic, however, is that the white speckling on the sides of the neck of the barnacle brant extends all around the front of the neck in the case of the black sea brant. As their name implies, these are purely seabirds, rarely flying over the land even, and only found in such bays as produce the eel grass on which they feed almost exclusively. I only know of the following places within the Pacific Coast shooting grounds where the black sea brant is found. These are: Puget sound, Washington; Coos bay, Oregon; Humboldt, Tomales, Moro and San Diego bays, California, and Magdalena bay, Lower California. In most of these places they ate plentiful during the winter season. Of all birds that fall to the aim of the sportsman, the black sea brant is the most difficult to get within range of. This is only accomplished by great caution and a good deal of strategy, but when they are brought to bag the reward is a full compensation, for of all the waterfowl their flesh is the most delicious. The sea brant is rarely found away from the haunts mentioned, yet the bird from which the accompanying illustration was made was killed from a small flock that had strayed into the lower end of San Francisco bay, near Redwood City, and was mounted by that accomplished sportsman and taxidermist, Chase Littlejohn, of that place.Color—General color, black; throat, with a white or speckled ring all around the neck, except a small portion of the back; flanks, mottled white and black; under tail feathers, white.Nest and Eggs—The nest is only a depression on the ground, but nicely lined with down. The eggs, numbering six to eight, are of a dull white.Measurements—Wing, 13 inches; bill, 11/2inches.THE SWANS(Olor columbianus) and (Olor buccinator)(Subfamily, CYGNINAE)Both the whistling swan (Olor columbianus) and the trumpeter swan (Olor buccinator) were once very plentiful on the Pacific Coast hunting grounds, as far south as central California, and especially so on the Columbia river and the lakes of Oregon and Washington. A few were met with also as far south as San Diego county, California.I shall never forget the first two swans I ever killed and my experience with them. It was the first winter after I came to California and I was living in Los Angeles, then a little Mexican village, and three of us were doing our own housekeeping. Whatever the reason—most likely from some hallucination of boyhood—I entertained the belief that swans must be exceedingly fine eating. As I prided myself then, just after crossing the plains, upon being a good cook, great preparations were made for an extra fine feast on what I fancied would be a delicious bird. We had a good stove and the first of the two swans was carefully "stuffed" with the choicest dressing, consisting of the combined suggestions of the three of us. It was placed in the oven, the fire carefully tended and the magnificent bird repeatedly "basted." When it was ready and placed on the table it fell to my lot to do the carving. Having drawn my knife across the hunger-producing carcass without making any perceptible impression, I decided that it must be the fault of a dull knife. Among our table furnishings we had no sharpening steel, a scythe stone doing service in its stead. I hunted this up and began on the knife with the "mower's challenge" stroke and soon had an edge that would have cut through anything less than an eighty-pound rail. With no little effort I amputated the legs and the wings, and cutting a generous piece from one side of the breast passed it to one of my companions, who at once began on it with his knife. A few attempts to sever it and he reached for the scythe stone. Then when he began chewing on the segregated piece he declared that it was not cooked enough. A dispute followed as to whether it is over-cooking or under-cooking that makes a bird tough. With this momentous question still unsettled we decided that some of the many ingredients that we had put into the "stuffing" must have given the meat its sole-leather consistency. We had a couple of hounds, whose teeth had been well tested in many a coyote kill, and we passed this first swan up to them.The next day the other bird was worked into a fine stew and well cooked. When served the stew was fine. The dumplings were light and fairly melted in our mouths; the red peppers were hot; the aroma of onions was just of that degree to suggest the ambrosia of the gods; but the swan! Well, the hounds ate it through the compulsion of hunger.A half-grown swan, however, is very good eating.There is very little difference in the two varieties. The whistling swan being more of a northern bird, rarely migrating as far south as central California. About the only noticeable difference is that the whistling swan has a small yellow spot at the V-shaped point of the bill where it meets the eye.THE WADERS AND SHORE BIRDSThe Pacific Coast is especially rich in waders and shore birds, there being upwards of forty species that are more or less common, with some ten or more that are occasional visitors. Of these few can be considered game birds, while others are so small that they are rarely shot by our sportsmen. Many of both the waders and the shore birds are constant residents. Others come from still farther south for breeding purposes, while still others breed north of us and migrate throughout the territorial scope of these articles to spend their winters.The shore birds, while very common, are hunted but little by the sportsmen of this region, and many of the smaller species that are considered quite a delicacy by our eastern brethren are passed by entirely by our lovers of the gun. The reasons for this will be obvious to all who have read the preceding pages and noted the abundance and great variety of larger and better game. By better game I mean birds that furnish better sport by requiring more skill in approaching them and better marksmanship in bringing them to bag. The little mountain plover, of the southern part of the Coast, while not surpassed even by the jack snipe as a table delicacy, are hunted but little, even where they are very abundant, because there is little sport to be had in shooting them. And the same is true, in a great measure, of several other species. Sportsmen, therefore, are little acquainted with these birds either as to their names, gastronomic merits or means of identification.WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis gaurauna)THE HERONS and IBISES(Order,Herodiones)While none of the orderHerodiones, which includes the storks, herons, ibises and bitterns, can be considered game birds, they are so common about our waters, and some of them add such a charm to the scene by their beautiful plumage and graceful movement, that mention of some of them here will not be out of place.The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) is the most common of these waders. With his long, gracefully curved neck and slender legs he wades with stately mien along the shallow waters of the lakes, marshes and streams, both summer and winter, for he is to the manner born and has no desire to seek other lands or other climes. The herons are said to be destructive to fish. This can be to a limited extent only, for they subsist very largely on the enemies of the fish, destroying hundreds of snakes, water lizards and other fish destroyers.The snowy heron, or white crane as it is commonly called (Ardea candidissima), is another handsome wader that lends a charm to the lakes, ponds and streams from Oregon south through Mexico. Built on the same graceful lines as its blue relative, and with a plumage as white as the purest snow, it never fails to attract attention.Three representatives of the familyIbididæare found here and present a pleasing and interesting group.The white-faced glossy ibis (Plegadis guarauna) ranges over the larger portion of the Coast, but from Lower California north only for breeding purposes. Its long curved bill, slim, gracefully bent neck, shapely body, tall legs and irridescent reflections of its plumage in the sunlight, place it among the most attractive of North American birds. Unlike the herons they are gregarious and are, therefore, seen in flocks of varying size. The glossy ibis is often called bronze curlew, but this is a bad misnomer, as they are in no way related to the curlew.Another of the family is the white ibis (Guara alba). These are quite common in Lower California and Mexico. They rarely migrate into California, though they venture much to the north of us in a northeastern direction, reaching the shores of the Great Salt Lake, during the breeding season. The scarlet ibis (Guara rubra), the other member of the family, is confined to Mexico, so far as these articles are concerned.The American egret (Ardea egretta) ranges from Oregonsouth to South America. It was at one time quite plentiful in California, but its handsome plumes attracted the eye of the milliner, which in turn aroused the cupidity of the market hunter, and these beautiful birds are now rare north of Lower California and Mexico, and are rapidly decreasing even there. The reddish egret (Ardea rufescens) is an inhabitant of Lower California and Mexico, not coming north of these places. Though not as handsome as the white egret, it is also being exterminated for the same purposes.The birds that I have so far mentioned, while not game birds, are so constantly before the eyes of the sportsmen who engage in waterfowl shooting that they can not help but be interested in them. They add a variety and a beauty to the scene, and many an hour's wait, that otherwise would have been tedious, has passed away pleasantly in watching the graceful movements of some one or more of these stately waders.THE CRANES, RAILS, GALLINULESTo the order,Paludicolae, belong the cranes, rails, gallinules and coots, or mudhens, as they are commonly called. Of the members of this order we are concerned only with the cranes, rails and coots. The sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) is a common visitor to all parts of the Coast, but more plentiful in the interior valleys than near the seashore. They are generally hard to approach and for that reason they are but little hunted by our sportsmen. The whooping crane (Grus americana) once common throughout the middle states, is still met with to considerable extent in Mexico, but it is by no means a common visitor.The California clapper rail, known also as the San Mateo rail (Rallus obsoletus), is the largest as well as the most important of the rail family in this section. At one time the clapper rail was very plentiful in certain localities in California and furnished abundant sport, though rather of a tame nature, to those who hunted them. Being an easy bird to kill and unsuspicious, they have been rapidly reduced in numbers until now they are in danger of extinction unless laws are enacted giving them better protection. The clapper is only a straggler south of San Francisco bay.The Virginia rail (Rallus virginianus), a species not more than half the size of the clapper rail, is found sparingly over the Coast, but principally on the fresh water marshes.The little yellow rail (Porzana noveboracensis) isfound on the fresh waters from central California south, but it is nowhere abundant.The black rail (Porzana jamaicensis) is another of the smaller rails that are found on the fresh waters to a limited extent. Both this and the last preceding one are so small that they are seldom shot, though as an article of food they are very delicate.
RUDDY DUCK (Erismatura rubida)
THE RUDDY DUCK, OR WIRE-TAIL
(Erismatura rubida)
The ruddy duck is a very common duck on our shooting grounds, from one end to the other, though as a rule it is not much sought after by our sportsmen. When feeding on the salt marshes they are not very palatable, it is true, but when killed on fresh waters they are one of our finest flavored ducks, if properly cooked. After refusing many shots at these little ducks and even many times failing to carry home those I did kill, it remained for Mr. Babcock, then of the Coronado Hotel, of San Diego, California, to demonstrate to me the real value of the ruddy duck. I was one of the party shooting with him on his preserve at Otay dam. When we came into the house after our morning's shoot, a most enjoyable one, he asked each member of the party what kind of duck he wished for his dinner. Mallards, canvasbacks, sprigs and widgeons had been named, so when he came to me I answered that any kind would do me. To this he replied: "Then you shall have one of my favorites." When dinner was ready, before each plate was a beautifully roasted duck of the species chosen by the member of the party for whom that plate was laid, but the plates in front of Mr. Babcock and myself each contained two plump little birds that I did not recognize in their undress uniform. After I had tasted of one, Mr. Babcock asked: "How do you like my selection?" "Very much," I answered, "but what are they? I never ate anything better." "The much despised ruddy," was his reply, "the superior of the canvasback when properly handled." The best evidence that I fully endorsed all that he claimed for the ruddy duck is the fact that there was nothing left of my two birds but well-picked bones. The ruddy duck may well be called a resident species over the whole of the Pacific Coast shooting grounds, for they breed not only on the lakes and streams, but on the lower marshes as well, throughout the whole territory.
The ruddy duck is known by a number of names such as "wire tail," "dipper," "bullet-head," "buffle-head," etc.
Color—Male—Top of head, dark brown; sides of head below the eye, dirty white; upper parts, brown; no speculum on the wing; axillars, very light gray with light brown shafts; tail, broad and stiff with the feathers pointed; under parts, dirty white.
Female—Much the color of the male, but more of a dirty brown. Side of the head and throat, dirty gray.
Nest and Eggs—The nests are usually built on little hillocks in the marshes, and contain from six to eight dirty white eggs.
Measurements—The ruddy is a small duck with a very rounded body. Total length, about 15 inches; wing, 6, and bill, 11/2inches, strongly depressed in the center.
[Pg 84]
AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE (Glaucionetta clangula americana)
THE AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE
(Glaucionetta clangula americana)
The American golden-eye is a visitor from the far north to the northern portions of the territory covered by this work. An occasional straggler is killed as far south as San Francisco, but they are a cold country bird. They are more common in the interior of Washington and Oregon than along the coast.
Color—Male—Head and upper half of neck, dark green with a metallic sheen; a nearly round patch of white between the eye and the base of the bill; lower part of neck, most of the back and the under parts, white; upper part of the back, rump and tail, black; wings, mostly white.
Female—Head and upper neck, brown; gray spot at the base of the bill; breast and under parts, gray; back and most of the wings, brownish black.
Nest and Eggs—The nest is usually built in a hollow tree or stump and contains about ten eggs of a bluish white color.
Measurements—Total length, about 19 inches; wing, 9, and bill, 17/8. Female about one-tenth smaller.
[Pg 90]
BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE (Glaucionetta ilandica)
BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE
(Glaucionetta ilandica)
Barrow's golden-eye is another duck that is seen, but little within the Pacific Coast hunting grounds, and only then near the coast sections of the northern part. They are found more plentiful on the islands along the north Pacific coast.
Color—The male resembles the American golden-eye very closely, except that the head of the Barrow's is more of a purple, or greenish purple. The white at the base of the bill is also different, it being a crescent shape instead of round.
The female differs in the head being more of a cinnamon brown, and the back more of a gray and slightly mottled with brown.
Nest, Eggs and Measurements—The same as the American golden-eye.
[Pg 86]
BUTTER-BALL (Charitonetta albeola)
THE BUTTER-BALL
(Charitonetta albeola)
The butter-ball, or buffle-head, is another common duck all over the country. But where we have so many larger and better ducks they are little sought for, and are generally considered poor shooting. Yet I recall one occasion when with a friend I was shooting on a couple of foothill ponds where many of these little ducks had congregated, they furnished us with fine sport. The larger ducks were soon scared away, but the little butter-balls would not leave. One of us was stationed at each pond and we soon had them all in the air.
Color—Male—Head, greenish purple, with a strong metallic luster; white patch running from the eye to the back of the head; feathers of the head long, forming a crest; back, black; under parts white and a broad white patch on the wing.
Female—The female is a very modestly colored bird to have so gaudy a mate. Head and upper parts, a dark, dead brown; under parts, white; speculum, white; a small, elongated white spot on the side of the head.
Nest and Eggs—The nest is usually built on some elevation such as a stump or log; some times in a tree. The eggs, numbering eight to ten, are of a pale buff color.
Measurements—Total length, 11 to 121/2inches; wing, about 6, and bill, 1 inch.
THE OLD SQUAW, OR LONG-TAILED DUCK
(Clangula hyemalis)
The old squaw, or long-tailed duck, comes but little into California, though a few are killed each year in Washington and Oregon. I killed one several years ago as far south as Los Angeles county, California, the only one I have ever known to get that far away from his northern home.
Color—Male—As the winter plumage is the only garb that one of this species will be seen in on these hunting grounds, I will only mention it. Head, white, with a patch of brownish black on the side of the head and side of the neck; breast, black, continuing over the back; belly, white; wings, white; a band of yellow across the bill; central tail feathers, black and very long.
Female—Head, white, with a dark patch on the top and on the side; breast and back, smoky black; under parts, white; no long feathers in the tail.
[Pg 88]
HARLEQUIN DUCK (Histrionicus histrionicus)
THE HARLEQUIN DUCK
(Histrionicus histrionicus)
The harlequin duck is a northern bird that comes but little into the United States on either coast. A few stragglers are met with in Oregon and Washington, and an occasional one is killed in California. These and the old squaw add a pleasing variety to our mounted collections, but nothing to our sport.
Color—The accompanying illustration is the best description of this duck that can be given, as the colors are white and a brownish black. It is about the size of the widgeon.
[Pg 91]
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Oidemia deglandi)
THE SCOTERS
(Oidemia deglandi—Oidemia americana)
The scoters, or coots, as they are called on the Atlantic coast, are all found on this coast southward to Mexico. Of these the white-winged scoter (Oidemia deglandi) is the most common, being found in large numbers on all the bays and inlets of the coast as far south as the Magdalena bay, Lower California.
Order, ANSERESFamily, ANATIDAE Subfamily, FULIGULINAE.(Bay and sea ducks)
THE GEESE OF THE PACIFIC COAST
The hunting grounds of the Pacific Coast have a greater variety of geese than any other section of America. Here are to be found every species known to the Eastern states, except the barnacle brant of the Atlantic. But in return for the absence of this species of sea brant we have the black sea brant, the white-cheeked goose, the ross goose, the emperor goose (none of which are found east of the Rocky Mountains) and the hutchins goose, the lesser snow goose, the white-fronted goose and the little brown brant, which are only stragglers east of the Mississippi valley, and only sparingly seen that far east. Thus it will be seen that within the Pacific Coast hunting grounds there are four genera and nine species of the goose family. All of these are found in the northern parts of these hunting grounds, but only about one-half of them visit the southern parts. Increased areas of cultivation, the drainage of vast sections of marshy lands and the absence of laws for their protection have greatly reduced the once wonderful supply.
Acres of geese sounds fabulous, yet miles of geese is the only expression which conveys an adequate idea of the wonderful numbers in which these birds were seen on the Coast half a century ago. The great majority of the geese of the Coast at that time were of the white varieties, and it is a veritable fact that in California, and especially in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Los Angeles valleys, these geese congregated during the winter months in such numbers as to whiten the plains for miles. Many flocks of honkers were mixed with them, as well as some of the other darker varieties. These darker species of the family, however, were far more plentiful in the northern parts of the State than in the southern. That part of the Sacramento valley known as the Maine Prairies has always been a favorite feeding place for the Canada goose and its subspecies.
CANADA GOOSE(Branta canadensis)BROWN BRANT(Branta minima)
THE CANADA GOOSE, OR HONKER
(Branta canadensis)
The Canada goose, or honker as it is commonly called, was and is quite common on the Coast. This goose, the largest of the Americans, has a wide distribution, ranging from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Arctic to Central America. They breed as far south as southern Oregon, at any rate, and possibly on the higher mountain lakes as far south as Mexico, for they seem to make their appearance on the Coast shooting grounds of Mexico nearly, if not quite, as early as they do here.
The flesh of the Canada goose is the equal if not the superior of the tame goose. Its flight, except when migrating long distances, is generally low, and in such cases it can be called by the hunter to within shooting distance.
Color—Head and neck, black, with a white stripe running from the chin back of the eye to near the top of the head; upper parts, dark brownish gray; breast, dull, light gray, grading into white at the abdomen; tail and wings, black. Both sexes alike.
Eggs and Nest—The nest is generally built of sticks and grass, lined with feathers, and either in the marshes or on the banks of a stream, and rarely if ever contain more than six or seven, and often not more than four, eggs of a very light brownish white.
Measurements—Wing, about 19 inches; bill, about 13/4inches.
[Pg 96]
WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE (Branta canadensis occidentalis)
THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE
(Branta canadensis occidentalis)
The white-cheeked goose, known also as Mexican goose, is found only on the Pacific Coast and never east of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon, or the Sierra Nevadas in California. In fact, they are generally confined to localities not far from the ocean. While both the honker and the Hutchins goose have a white cheek, the white of the honker meets under the chin or blends into a gray, but the white of the white-cheeked variety is separated either with a distinct black stripe under the chin or a mottled black and white one. Also the black of the neck of the white-cheeked goose and the brownish gray of the breast is very generally separated by a white collar, though sometimes this is so faint as to be almost indistinguishable.
The white-cheeked goose is rarely seen south of Monterey Bay, California.
Color—Same as the Canada goose, except that the white on the cheeks is either separated under the chin by a black stripe or by only a very few white feathers in the black. Between the neck and the dull gray of the breast is a narrow white stripe, or collar. This some times is very faint, and, in fact, some times, though very rarely, absent. This absence of the collar is quite likely caused by its inter-grading with the Hutchins goose.
Nest and Eggs—The same as the Canada goose.
Measurements—Wing, never more than 16 inches; bill, not more than 11/4inches.
THE HUTCHINS GOOSE
(Branta canadensis hutchinsii)
We have on the Pacific Coast four varieties of theBranta canadensis, or that species to which belongs the Canada goose, all resembling each other closely except in size. Two of these species are generally considered honkers by most of our sportsmen, while others have two or three local names for them, among which are Mexican goose and Lower California goose. The fact is that while the Canada goose is quite common on the coasts of Mexico, neither the Hutchins goose nor the white-cheeked goose migrate that far south.
The Hutchins goose so closely resembles the Canada goose, or honker as it is popularly called, that it is principally distinguished by its smaller size and a considerable difference in the call. The Hutchins goose ranges as far east as the Mississippi valley, and on the Pacific Coast south only to about Santa Barbara county, California. This is one of the two varieties that is given the local names of Mexican and Lower California goose.
Color—Same as the Canada goose, from which it is only distinguished by its smaller size and a considerable difference in its call.
Nest and Eggs—Same as the Canada goose.
Measurements—Wing, not more than 17 inches; bill, 11/2inches.
THE CACKLING GOOSE, OR BROWN BRANT
(Branta canadensis minima)
The cackling goose, known also as brown brant and gray brant, is the most common of the four varieties and much the smallest. (See illustration.) Its markings are the same as the Canada goose, but its under parts are somewhat darker. While in total length it is fully half that of the honker, in weight it is not more than one-third. The cackling geese are commonly found in flocks of the white geese, both in their feeding and their migrations. This species ranges east as far as the Mississippi valley and south on the Coast as far as the mouth of the Colorado river and to some extent into Lower California. It is more numerous than any other of the dark colored geese of the Pacific Coast.
Color—The same as the Canada goose, with the exception that it is a little darker on the under parts.
Nest and Eggs—The same as the Canada goose, but the eggs number as high as ten.
Measurements—Wing, 13 to 141/2inches; bill, from one to one and one-eighth.
[Pg 98]
LESSER SNOW GOOSE(Chen hyperborea)ROSS GOOSE(Chen rossii)
THE SNOW GOOSE, OR WHITE GOOSE
(Chen hyperborea)
The lesser snow geese, commonly called white geese, are the larger of the two species of white geese so numerous on the Coast. They not only feed, but migrate in great flocks, and these migrations often take place at night when their sharp cries will be heard high in the air. The lesser snow goose is found as far east as the Mississippi valley and south on the Pacific Coast to San Diego. Occasionally a few are seen at Ensenada and the valley of the Palms in Lower California. The meat is tough and poor in flavor and, therefore, they are hunted but little except by the market hunters, who, somehow, succeed in selling a good number of them to the uninitiated.
Color—Pure white, with black bill and legs; the primaries, or long feathers of the wings, are black.
Nest and Eggs—The nests are made close to the water's edge and contain about ten dirty white eggs.
Measurements—Wing, about 16 inches; bill, 21/4inches.
THE ROSS GOOSE, OR LITTLE WHITE GOOSE
(Chen rossii)
The Ross goose has been given the name of China goose by many who wanted some distinguishing nomenclature for them, when in fact the Ross goose is purely an American Pacific Coast bird. Like the snow goose it is pure white with black primary plumes. Young birds of both species are occasionally seen in the early part of the season more or less mottled on the breast with yellowish gray feathers. The Ross goose is only about half the size of the snow goose. Aside from this it can always be known by the warty appearance of the upper half of the bill. They are commonly seen, both in feeding and in their migrations, mixed in the flocks of the snow geese. Occasionally they are seen as far east as Utah and Montana, but only in small numbers.
The Ross goose migrates as far south as Central Mexico, great numbers of them congregating on Lake Chapala, in the state of Jalisco.
Color—Same as the snow goose.
Measurements—Wing, about 14 inches; bill, 21/4, with warty excresences on the upper part.
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, OR SPECKLE-BREAST (Anser albifrons gambeli)
WHITE FRONTED GOOSE
(Anser albifrons gambeli)
The white-fronted goose, or speckle-breast as it is commonly called, is quite common on the Coast south to Mexico, where great numbers congregate on Lake Chapala, Jalisco. This is another western species, though ranging to some extent as far east as the Mississippi valley and an occasional flock wanders even to the Atlantic coast. The breasts of the old birds are commonly profusely speckled with black feathers. The white-fronted goose is a little more exclusive in its habits than any of the others named, being generally found in flocks by themselves. As a table bird the meat is quite palatable, and large numbers are sold in the markets.
Color—Head, grayish brown, with a white spot at the junction of the bill, but this is absent from the young birds; neck, lighter, shading into white or dull white on the breast, mottled with black; back, ashy gray, edged with brown; shafts of the quills, white; bill and legs, light pink.
Nest and Eggs—The nest is usually well made and lined with feathers and down. The eggs number about seven or eight, and are of a pale greenish white.
Measurements—Wing, 16 inches; bill, 2 inches.
[Pg 102]
EMPEROR GOOSE (Philacte canagica)
THE EMPEROR GOOSE
(Philacte canagica)
The Emperor goose is a north Pacific species, breeding principally on the islands of the Alaska coast. The great majority of these birds winter well to the north of us, though a number venture southward into California to Humboldt bay and even south of that. A small flock or two is seen almost every winter on the marshes near San Francisco. A close watch of the markets will reveal one or two offered for sale almost every winter.
Color—Head and back of neck, white; throat, brownish gray, shading into light gray on the breast and abdomen; back, a little darker; the feathers being gray, tipped with lighter gray, with a sub-terminal band of brownish gray; legs, flesh color.
Nest and Eggs—The nests are usually found on the small islands of the salt marshes, and contain eight to ten eggs of a dull white color.
Measurements—Wing, about 151/2inches; bill, 11/2inches.
[Pg 104]
BLACK SEA BRANT (Branta nigricans)
THE BLACK SEA BRANT
(Branta nigricans)
The black sea brant is another purely Pacific Coast species, found nowhere else except as a straggler. They resemble the barnacle brant of the Atlantic (Branta barnicla) except in the shape of the head and bill. A differing characteristic, however, is that the white speckling on the sides of the neck of the barnacle brant extends all around the front of the neck in the case of the black sea brant. As their name implies, these are purely seabirds, rarely flying over the land even, and only found in such bays as produce the eel grass on which they feed almost exclusively. I only know of the following places within the Pacific Coast shooting grounds where the black sea brant is found. These are: Puget sound, Washington; Coos bay, Oregon; Humboldt, Tomales, Moro and San Diego bays, California, and Magdalena bay, Lower California. In most of these places they ate plentiful during the winter season. Of all birds that fall to the aim of the sportsman, the black sea brant is the most difficult to get within range of. This is only accomplished by great caution and a good deal of strategy, but when they are brought to bag the reward is a full compensation, for of all the waterfowl their flesh is the most delicious. The sea brant is rarely found away from the haunts mentioned, yet the bird from which the accompanying illustration was made was killed from a small flock that had strayed into the lower end of San Francisco bay, near Redwood City, and was mounted by that accomplished sportsman and taxidermist, Chase Littlejohn, of that place.
Color—General color, black; throat, with a white or speckled ring all around the neck, except a small portion of the back; flanks, mottled white and black; under tail feathers, white.
Nest and Eggs—The nest is only a depression on the ground, but nicely lined with down. The eggs, numbering six to eight, are of a dull white.
Measurements—Wing, 13 inches; bill, 11/2inches.
THE SWANS
(Olor columbianus) and (Olor buccinator)
(Subfamily, CYGNINAE)
Both the whistling swan (Olor columbianus) and the trumpeter swan (Olor buccinator) were once very plentiful on the Pacific Coast hunting grounds, as far south as central California, and especially so on the Columbia river and the lakes of Oregon and Washington. A few were met with also as far south as San Diego county, California.
I shall never forget the first two swans I ever killed and my experience with them. It was the first winter after I came to California and I was living in Los Angeles, then a little Mexican village, and three of us were doing our own housekeeping. Whatever the reason—most likely from some hallucination of boyhood—I entertained the belief that swans must be exceedingly fine eating. As I prided myself then, just after crossing the plains, upon being a good cook, great preparations were made for an extra fine feast on what I fancied would be a delicious bird. We had a good stove and the first of the two swans was carefully "stuffed" with the choicest dressing, consisting of the combined suggestions of the three of us. It was placed in the oven, the fire carefully tended and the magnificent bird repeatedly "basted." When it was ready and placed on the table it fell to my lot to do the carving. Having drawn my knife across the hunger-producing carcass without making any perceptible impression, I decided that it must be the fault of a dull knife. Among our table furnishings we had no sharpening steel, a scythe stone doing service in its stead. I hunted this up and began on the knife with the "mower's challenge" stroke and soon had an edge that would have cut through anything less than an eighty-pound rail. With no little effort I amputated the legs and the wings, and cutting a generous piece from one side of the breast passed it to one of my companions, who at once began on it with his knife. A few attempts to sever it and he reached for the scythe stone. Then when he began chewing on the segregated piece he declared that it was not cooked enough. A dispute followed as to whether it is over-cooking or under-cooking that makes a bird tough. With this momentous question still unsettled we decided that some of the many ingredients that we had put into the "stuffing" must have given the meat its sole-leather consistency. We had a couple of hounds, whose teeth had been well tested in many a coyote kill, and we passed this first swan up to them.
The next day the other bird was worked into a fine stew and well cooked. When served the stew was fine. The dumplings were light and fairly melted in our mouths; the red peppers were hot; the aroma of onions was just of that degree to suggest the ambrosia of the gods; but the swan! Well, the hounds ate it through the compulsion of hunger.
A half-grown swan, however, is very good eating.
There is very little difference in the two varieties. The whistling swan being more of a northern bird, rarely migrating as far south as central California. About the only noticeable difference is that the whistling swan has a small yellow spot at the V-shaped point of the bill where it meets the eye.
THE WADERS AND SHORE BIRDS
The Pacific Coast is especially rich in waders and shore birds, there being upwards of forty species that are more or less common, with some ten or more that are occasional visitors. Of these few can be considered game birds, while others are so small that they are rarely shot by our sportsmen. Many of both the waders and the shore birds are constant residents. Others come from still farther south for breeding purposes, while still others breed north of us and migrate throughout the territorial scope of these articles to spend their winters.
The shore birds, while very common, are hunted but little by the sportsmen of this region, and many of the smaller species that are considered quite a delicacy by our eastern brethren are passed by entirely by our lovers of the gun. The reasons for this will be obvious to all who have read the preceding pages and noted the abundance and great variety of larger and better game. By better game I mean birds that furnish better sport by requiring more skill in approaching them and better marksmanship in bringing them to bag. The little mountain plover, of the southern part of the Coast, while not surpassed even by the jack snipe as a table delicacy, are hunted but little, even where they are very abundant, because there is little sport to be had in shooting them. And the same is true, in a great measure, of several other species. Sportsmen, therefore, are little acquainted with these birds either as to their names, gastronomic merits or means of identification.
WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis gaurauna)
THE HERONS and IBISES
(Order,Herodiones)
While none of the orderHerodiones, which includes the storks, herons, ibises and bitterns, can be considered game birds, they are so common about our waters, and some of them add such a charm to the scene by their beautiful plumage and graceful movement, that mention of some of them here will not be out of place.
The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) is the most common of these waders. With his long, gracefully curved neck and slender legs he wades with stately mien along the shallow waters of the lakes, marshes and streams, both summer and winter, for he is to the manner born and has no desire to seek other lands or other climes. The herons are said to be destructive to fish. This can be to a limited extent only, for they subsist very largely on the enemies of the fish, destroying hundreds of snakes, water lizards and other fish destroyers.
The snowy heron, or white crane as it is commonly called (Ardea candidissima), is another handsome wader that lends a charm to the lakes, ponds and streams from Oregon south through Mexico. Built on the same graceful lines as its blue relative, and with a plumage as white as the purest snow, it never fails to attract attention.
Three representatives of the familyIbididæare found here and present a pleasing and interesting group.
The white-faced glossy ibis (Plegadis guarauna) ranges over the larger portion of the Coast, but from Lower California north only for breeding purposes. Its long curved bill, slim, gracefully bent neck, shapely body, tall legs and irridescent reflections of its plumage in the sunlight, place it among the most attractive of North American birds. Unlike the herons they are gregarious and are, therefore, seen in flocks of varying size. The glossy ibis is often called bronze curlew, but this is a bad misnomer, as they are in no way related to the curlew.
Another of the family is the white ibis (Guara alba). These are quite common in Lower California and Mexico. They rarely migrate into California, though they venture much to the north of us in a northeastern direction, reaching the shores of the Great Salt Lake, during the breeding season. The scarlet ibis (Guara rubra), the other member of the family, is confined to Mexico, so far as these articles are concerned.
The American egret (Ardea egretta) ranges from Oregonsouth to South America. It was at one time quite plentiful in California, but its handsome plumes attracted the eye of the milliner, which in turn aroused the cupidity of the market hunter, and these beautiful birds are now rare north of Lower California and Mexico, and are rapidly decreasing even there. The reddish egret (Ardea rufescens) is an inhabitant of Lower California and Mexico, not coming north of these places. Though not as handsome as the white egret, it is also being exterminated for the same purposes.
The birds that I have so far mentioned, while not game birds, are so constantly before the eyes of the sportsmen who engage in waterfowl shooting that they can not help but be interested in them. They add a variety and a beauty to the scene, and many an hour's wait, that otherwise would have been tedious, has passed away pleasantly in watching the graceful movements of some one or more of these stately waders.
THE CRANES, RAILS, GALLINULES
To the order,Paludicolae, belong the cranes, rails, gallinules and coots, or mudhens, as they are commonly called. Of the members of this order we are concerned only with the cranes, rails and coots. The sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) is a common visitor to all parts of the Coast, but more plentiful in the interior valleys than near the seashore. They are generally hard to approach and for that reason they are but little hunted by our sportsmen. The whooping crane (Grus americana) once common throughout the middle states, is still met with to considerable extent in Mexico, but it is by no means a common visitor.
The California clapper rail, known also as the San Mateo rail (Rallus obsoletus), is the largest as well as the most important of the rail family in this section. At one time the clapper rail was very plentiful in certain localities in California and furnished abundant sport, though rather of a tame nature, to those who hunted them. Being an easy bird to kill and unsuspicious, they have been rapidly reduced in numbers until now they are in danger of extinction unless laws are enacted giving them better protection. The clapper is only a straggler south of San Francisco bay.
The Virginia rail (Rallus virginianus), a species not more than half the size of the clapper rail, is found sparingly over the Coast, but principally on the fresh water marshes.
The little yellow rail (Porzana noveboracensis) isfound on the fresh waters from central California south, but it is nowhere abundant.
The black rail (Porzana jamaicensis) is another of the smaller rails that are found on the fresh waters to a limited extent. Both this and the last preceding one are so small that they are seldom shot, though as an article of food they are very delicate.