BIRDS OF LOWER CALIFORNIA. 243 



On March 15 I left Magdaleiia Bay, accompanied by one 

 assistant, and tlie well-known botanist, Mr. T. S. Brandegee, 

 to make a journey nortliward through the interior of the 

 peninsula. A^ our time was somewhat limited, and the 

 season for collecting so well advanced. I abandoned my first 

 intention of beginning the overland journe}^ from the coun- 

 try adjoining Magdalena Bay, on the east, and instead went 

 by boat to San Jorge. From San Jorge we went inland to 

 Comondu, where a stay of twelve days was made in order to 

 collect in that interesting locality, and negotiate for ani- 

 mals and men for the overland journey. Much difficulty 

 was experienced in getting competent men and suitable ani- 

 mals, but at last satisfactory arrangement:^ were made, and 

 the trip, which I had been told by one who has had mucli 

 experience traveling in the peninsula was an impossibility, 

 owing mainly to lack of water, commenced April 3. ' ' The 

 start," says Mr. Brandegee, " was made with some misgiv- 

 ings as to the result, for we knew there was a ride of nearly 

 five hundred miles before us through a dry, desolate, rocky 

 and almost uninhabited region." Briefly noticing the general 

 route taken, wdiich was governed largely by the question of 

 water, I shall pass to the ornithological bibliography of 

 Lower California, and finish with an annotated list of birds 

 known from that territory. Only species which have a valid 

 claim to a place in the catalogue have been included; others 

 are almost certain to be found later, as they are known to 

 occur, at times, both north and south of the peninsula. 



I made inquiry of the people with the intention of pre- 

 paring a list of the Mexican names of the birds, but the in- 

 formation received was so contradictory, and the same name 

 applied often to several species, and of many no name was 

 known, that the result was ver\" unsatisfactory. 



It must be borne in mind that at the time of the overland 

 journey from Comondu to San Quintin, the migration had 

 practically ceased. 



