Dr. E. Coues. — From Arizona to the Pucijic. 2G5 



forms the most convenient and perhaps the only practicable 

 route from this portion of Arizona into California. Soda 

 " Lake'' is, except at times, even less of a lake than the Mojave 

 is of river, being merely a flat muddy expanse, where the 

 ground for miles is white as snow from the thick deposit of 

 saline efflorescence, whence the spot derives its name. A more 

 desolate and forlorn spot can hardly be conceived ; but to an 

 ornithologist it has attractions. 



It has been ascertained that just here Lophorti/x gambeli and 

 L. calif ornica find a neutral ground that they both may occupy. 

 Doubtless the western species follows the watercourse until 

 arrested by the desert : I have never heard of its being detected 

 in the Colorado valley, where L. gambeli holds undisputed pos- 

 session ; and I think it is exceedingly probable that the repre- 

 sentative Jays of the two countries {Cyanocitta uood/wusii and 

 C. californica) may also both be found here; and perhaps the 

 same fact may hold good regarding some other species. Near 

 the sink of the river. Dr. Cooper found Centrucercus uropha- 

 siainis, which I believe is the most southern point at which it 

 has been discovered. I never saw one, nor, indeed, any other 

 species of Grouse, while in Arizona. The same gentleman ascer- 

 tained the presence of Trochilus alexandri on the river. In the 

 heavy rushes that formed clumps of various sizes I heard the 

 loud clatter of Rallus virginiajius ; and happening to be kept 

 awake all night by the unendurable torture of hosts of hungry 

 mosquitoes of a peculiarly large and vindictive species, I am able 

 to state that the Rail emits its unmusical noise as often during 

 the night as the day. Numbers of Cistothorus palustris and a 

 few Mallards finish the list of birds observed here. 



Towards the head of the river, where the water became per- 

 manent, were immense quantities of Geese and Ducks. I pass 

 them over now, as in no way difi'ering from those found at San 

 Pedro, of which I will speak presently. 



With the first appearance of anything like verdure, I found 

 myself again among Field-Larks. Arizona is most unaccount- 

 ably deprived, in a great measure, of these birds; I do not 

 think I saw a dozen during my whole stay there, though many 

 places seem perfectly adapted to their wants. Galliuago wilsoni 



