THE CALIFORNIAN PENINSULA 355 



shock the feelings of ca Blumonbach or Agassiz; yet his remarks, resulting from 

 actual observation, are for the most part correct, and evince undeniably his 

 love of truth. In the list of wild quadrupeds are enumerated the deer, hare, 

 rabbit, fox, coyote, wild cat, skunk, (Sorillo,) leopard, (American panther,) 

 onza, and wild ram. In reference to the last-named animal the author remarks: 

 "Where the chain of mountains that runs lengthwise through the whole penin- 

 sula reaches a considerable height, there are found animals resembling our 

 rams in all respects, except the horns, which are thicker, longer, and much 

 more curved. When pursued, these animals will drop themselves from the 

 highest precipices upon their horns without receiving any injury. Their num- 

 ber, however, cannot be great, for 1 never saw a living specimen, nor the fur 

 of one in the possession of an Indian; but many skins of leopards and onzas." 



This animal is doubtless identical with the Eocky Mountain sheep, fOvia 

 montana.) 



The feathered tribe does not seem to be very plentiful in California, since, 

 according to Father Baegert, a person may travel one or two days without see- 

 ing other birds but occasionally a tilthy vulture, raven, or "bat." Among the few 

 which he observed are the red-bird, (cardinal) blue-bird, humming-bird, and 

 an "ash-colored bird with a tail resembling that of a peacock and a beautiful 

 tuft on its head;" also wild ducks and a species of swallow, the latter appear- 

 ing only now and then in small numbers, and therefore considered as extraneous. 



There are some small fish found in the waters of California; but they do not 

 amount to much, and during lent the father obtained his supply from the 

 Pacific, distant 12 leagues from his habitation. On the other days of abstinence 

 his meal usually consisted of a "little goat-milk and dry beans, and if a few 

 eggs were added, he cared for nothing else, but considered himself well enter- 

 tained." 



Under the comprehensive, but not very scientific head of " vermin," the author 

 enumerates snakes, scorpions, centipedes, huge spiders, toads, wasps, bats, ants, 

 and grasshoppers. These vermin seem to have been a great annoyance to the 

 good missionary, especially the snakes, of which there are about twenty differ- 

 ent kinds in California, the rattlesnake being, of course, the most conspicuous 

 among them. This dangerous reptile, Avhich seems to be very numerous in that 

 region, is minutely and correctly described, and, as might be expected, there 

 are also some "snake stories" related. One day when the author was about 

 to shave and took his razors from the upper board of his book-shelf, he discov- 

 ered there, to his horror, a rattlesnake of large size. He received likewise in 

 his new dwelling-hou:~e, which was a stone building, frequent visits from scor- 

 pions, large centipedes, tarantulas, ants and toads, all precautions being unavail- 

 mg against the intrusion of these uninvited guests. The grasshoppers are rep- 

 resented as a real public calamity. Migrating from the southern part of the 

 peninsula towards the north, they deluge the country, obscuring the sun by 

 their numbers, and causing a noise that resembles a strong wind. IS ever devi- 

 ating from their line of march, they will climb houses and churches encountered 

 during their progress, laying waste all fields and gardens over which their per- 

 nicious train passes. 



Of the climate in California the author speaks well, and considers it as both 

 healthy and agreeable. Being only one degree and a half distant from the 

 Tropic of Cancer, he lived, of course, in a hot region, and he remarks with ref- 

 erence to the high temperature that some thought the name " California" was 

 a contraction from the Latin words calida fornax, (hot oven,) without vouching, 

 however, for the correctness of the derivation,' though he is certain that the ap- 

 pellation is not of Indian origin. The greatest heat begins in the month of 

 July and lasts till the middle of October ; but there is every day in the year 

 quite a refreshing wind blowing, which begins at noon, if not sooner, and con- 

 tinues till night. The principal winds are north west and south west ; the norti 



