162 MEARNS on Birds at Fort Klamath. 



which nest and pass the summer there." * Ducks, Geese, Herons. 

 Plovers, and Sandpipers are exceedingly abundant. Dr. J. S. New- 

 berry, quoted above, thus describes (1. c., p. 101) the arrival of the 

 Water-fowl in autumn,: " With the first October rain, vegetation 

 begins to spring over all these prairies, and the Geese and Ducks 

 now come in. Flock after nock in increasing numbers they come. 

 until their flights rival those of the Passenger Pigeon, and the 

 heavens are always marked by their characteristic triangles and the 

 air filled with their cries. The Ducks descend to the bays, streams, 

 and lakes, and almost cover the smaller bodies of water, while the 

 Geese settle on the prairie and feedjupon the fallen grain of the 

 oat, or the first tender sprigs of springing grass, which now begins 

 to tinge the landscape with green." 



Mrs. Wittich thus describes the bird islands in the lake : " Look- 

 ing toward the lake there were seen two or three white hills that I 

 should have supposed were snow-covered mountains, did they not 

 have a background of higher mountains that were only streaked at 

 the top with snow ; but the cause of my perplexity was explained 

 on being told that it was the island in the lake, which is perfectly 

 bare, and rises to a considerable height. During the breeding 

 season it is covered with the eggs of Water-birds of many spi 



The present list is necessarily very incomplete, and probably 

 does not include much more than one half of the species that 

 actually visit the Klamath Basin. 



Below is given a list of specimens, together with biographical 

 notes and notices of other species that have been positively ascer- 

 tained to occur by Lieutenant Wittich. A number of additional 

 spi n.s are included on the authority of Dr. Henry McElderry, 

 Assistant Surgeon, V. S. A., whose observations and collections 

 were made contemporaneously with those of Lieutenant Wittich, 

 and are officially recorded, at the post hospital, as " Birds person- 

 ally identified by Dr. Henry McElderry, Post Surgeon." 



1 take this means of expressing to Lieutenant Wittich my warm- 

 est thanks for his constant efforts to procure rare specimens and 

 important facts relating to the ornithology of his locality, as well as 

 for many similar favors. 



I am also indebted to Mi-. Henry W. Ilenshaw, for his kindness 

 in examining several specimens, and the determination of certain 

 obscure varieties, besides some important suggestions, which his 



* Dr. .1. s. Newberry, Pacific Railroad Report, Vol. VI, Pt. IV. p. 99, 1857. 



