62 U. S. p. R. n. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ROUTE TO CALIFOENU. 



Ranch. The}' incubate in the country, as their eggs were obtained in Sacramento valley during 

 the month of May. 



RALLUS VIRGINIANUS, Linn .—Virginia Rail. 



Salltu virginianus, Acd. B. of A. Oct. vol. V, p. 174, pi. 311.— Wils. Am. Orn. vol. VU, p. 109, pi. 62, fig. 1.— Nctt. 

 Orn. Tol. II, p. 205. 



I obtained this bird within a few miles of Sacramento City, but am unable to say whether it 

 is a common species, so rarely does it show itself, even in localities where it may be in numbers. 

 All the birds of this genus, being averse to take wing, run with remarkable swiftness, and are 

 soon lost to the hunter, the compressibility of their bodies enabling them to slide with great 

 ease througli the dense masses of reeds which form their usual haunts. 



RALLUS ELEGANS, A u d .—Red-breasted Rail. 



RaUui elegant, Add. B. of A. Oct. vol. V. p. 160, pi. 309 — DeKay, N. H. of N. Y. part I, p. 260, pi. 99, fig. 221. 



Abundant, having seen it on several occasions in diiferent parts of California, and also exposed 

 for sale in the San Francisco market. While hunting in the marshes of Suisun valley, I started 

 a specimen of Itallus much smaller than the present one, but was unable to determine the species, 

 aSj (being embarrassed at the time with a load of fifteen geese killed shortly before,) it alighted 

 before I could shoot. 



GRUS CANADENSIS, T e m m i n c k .—Sand Hill Crane. 



Gnts canadensis, Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 373. — Nott, Orn. vol. II, p. 38. — Baird, Gen. Rep. 655. 

 Grus americana. Add. B. of A. Oct. vol. V, pi. 314. 



These fine birds make their appearance in California in the fall in large flocks, coming from 

 the north to spend the winter under a more genial clime. When migrating, they follow each 

 other in a line, giving vent the while to a loud but not unmusical rattle. In the spring I have 

 observed large flocks start from the ground, sail around in extensive circles, gradually rising to 

 a great height, when the signal being sounded by one or more of the leaders they would at once 

 fall into line and commence their migrations back to the northern regions for the purposes of 

 incubation. While in California it frequents the plains and marshes, but being wild and very 

 vigilant is difficult of approach. Among the many thousands I have seen both in spring and 

 fall, I have never yet discovered tlie white whooping crane, {Grus americana ) In the early 

 settlement of California by Americans, when turkeys were yet scarce, I have known a sand hill 

 crane to command from sixteen to twenty dollars in the San Francisco market for the purpose 

 of replacing, on the Christmas dinner table, that almost indispensable feature of this particular 

 festival. 



IBIS MEXICANUS, Gm el .—Mexican Ibis. 



iba chalcoplera, Tkmm, PI. Col. pi. 511. 



Tantalus mexicanus, Gmkl, Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 6^2. 



Ihis ordii, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 685. 



Abundant. Found in small flocks during the winter, which separate in pairs towards spring. 

 It incubates in the country, selecting to that effect the most retired portions of the marshes in 

 the large valleys. I have killed the young still retaining the down on the head but never 

 discovered the nest. Its habits are very similar to those of the curlew, probing the ground and 



