Dr. E. Coues, — From Arizona to the Pacific. 269 



distinguish P. alaudinus from the common Eastern P. savanna. 

 In large series of the latter, shot about Washington^ I have 

 found fully as great diflfei-ences as I have ever detected in com- 

 paring the eastern with the western forms. 



The preceding birds are the characteristic species of the 

 immediate vicinity, and include perhaps a majority of the land 

 species. I cannot better give an idea of the number, variety, 

 and interest of the Waders and Swimmers that were all crowded 

 into the little bay of San Pedro, which is at the mouth of the 

 San Gabriel river, than by epitomizing a day that I spent most 

 delightfully sailing about with Dr. Cooper, whose hospitality I 

 enjoyed during my stay, and whose conversation was to me an 

 encyclopaedia of interesting biographies of the birds of the 

 Pacific coast. 



It was difficult navigation along the intricate channel of the 

 bay, even for our boat which did not draw a foot of water. 

 Most extensive mud-bars and flats were laid bare by the 

 receding tide, all crowded with Waders. Conspicuous among 

 them the large Numenius longirostris stalked with dignity about, 

 or flew by us in flocks uttering its loud cries. Associating with 

 each other, and with the Curlews, Symphemia semipalmata, 

 Gambetta melanoleuca, and Limosa fedoa helped the Curlews to 

 keep us from shooting any Geese by their incessant vociferations. 

 Sprinkled among these larger Waders, immense flocks of the 

 Pigmies, Actodromas minutilla and Ereunetes pusillus, left myriads 

 of little tracks in the soft mud for the next tide to efi'ace. 



Standing in the shallow water, often hundreds of yards from 

 visible land, the Herons crooked their necks and darted their 

 bills at luckless fish — Garzetta candidissima, Herodias egretta, 

 and, towering above them all, the great Ardea herodias, the 

 latter tall enough to rear his whole neck above the tallest grass 

 of the sedgy flats. More hidden among the grasses and reeds, 

 numbers of Geese were feeding on succulent shoots ; but they 

 are so much annoyed that it was haid to kill them. No less 

 than five species are to be seen — Anser hyperhoreus, A. gambeli, 

 Bernicla hutchinsi, B. canadensis, and B. nigricans ; and I 

 believe I have named them somewhat in the order of their 

 abundance, though perhaps Ilutchins's Goose is c<^)mmoncr than 



